Abstract
BackgroundCellular phone use (CPU) is an important part of life for many adolescents. However, problematic CPU may complicate physiological and psychological problems. The aim of our study was to examine the associations between problematic CPU and a series of risky behaviors and low self-esteem in Taiwanese adolescents.MethodsA total of 11,111 adolescent students in Southern Taiwan were randomly selected into this study. We used the Problematic Cellular Phone Use Questionnaire to identify the adolescents with problematic CPU. Meanwhile, a series of risky behaviors and self-esteem were evaluated. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the associations between problematic CPU and risky behaviors and low self-esteem regarding gender and age.ResultsThe results indicated that positive associations were found between problematic CPU and aggression, insomnia, smoking cigarettes, suicidal tendencies, and low self-esteem in all groups with different sexes and ages. However, gender and age differences existed in the associations between problematic CPU and suspension from school, criminal records, tattooing, short nocturnal sleep duration, unprotected sex, illicit drugs use, drinking alcohol and chewing betel nuts.ConclusionsThere were positive associations between problematic CPU and a series of risky behaviors and low self-esteem in Taiwanese adolescents. It is worthy for parents and mental health professionals to pay attention to adolescents' problematic CPU.
Highlights
Cellular phone use (CPU) is an important part of life for many adolescents
For the gender and age differences in those with problematic CPU, we examined the relationships of problematic CPU with risky behaviors and low self-esteem regarding gender and age, and the fixed effects of risky behaviors and self-esteem on CPU estimated by multi-level logistic analyses are shown in Table 2 and Table 3
The results indicated that in all girls and boys, those with problematic CPU were more likely to perpetrate aggression, be victims of aggression, have insomnia, have low self-esteem, smoke cigarettes, and have suicidal tendencies than those without problematic CPU
Summary
Cellular phone use (CPU) is an important part of life for many adolescents. Problematic CPU may complicate physiological and psychological problems. The aim of our study was to examine the associations between problematic CPU and a series of risky behaviors and low self-esteem in Taiwanese adolescents. Cellular phone use (CPU) is an important part of life for many people. There have been increasing numbers of studies indicating that problematic CPU may complicate physiological and psychological problems [13]. Studies on the association between problematic CPU and psychological problems have been relatively few until now. Researchers have found that problematic CPU was associated with low self-esteem in adult populations [9] in addition to alcohol drinking [10] and depression [11] in.
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