Associations between problematic smartphone use and behavioural difficulties, quality of life, and school performance among children and adolescents

Abstract

Background European studies on determinants and factors associated with problematic smartphone use (PSU) in children and adolescents are still sparse. This study reports the current amount of PSU symptoms and the presence of (clinically relevant) PSU in German children and adolescents. We also investigated associations between socio-demographic factors, different smartphone usage patterns, and daily smartphone usage time and the amount of PSU symptoms in this group. In addition, associations of PSU symptoms and high smartphone usage times (> 2 h/day) with behavioural problems, quality of life (QoL), and school performance were investigated. Methods Within the framework of the LIFE Child study, 564 children and adolescents aged 10–18 years provided information on PSU symptoms (using the Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale), daily smartphone usage time, smartphone activities, behavioural strengths and difficulties (using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), QoL (using the KIDSCREEN-27), and school performance. Multiple regression analyses were applied to assess associations. Results In the present sample, PSU was present in 13 children (2.3%). Older age, female gender, high daily smartphone usage time of > 2 h, and intensive smartphone use for social networking, gaming, or watching video clips were significantly associated with more PSU symptoms. Children and adolescents reporting more PSU symptoms also showed lower QoL, more behavioural difficulties, and poorer school performance, independently of age, gender, socio-economic status, and daily smartphone usage time. In contrast, daily smartphone usage time per se showed only weak or non-significant associations with these aspects of health and behaviour. Conclusion Intensive smartphone use for entertainment may increase the risk of developing PSU symptoms. Furthermore, the results indicate that PSU symptoms (more than long smartphone usage times per se) are associated with more behavioural difficulties and poorer QoL.

Psychological Research on Sleep Problems and Adjustment of Working Hours during Teleworking in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Study

“…These data are in accordance with data from previous research [ 55 ], which pointed to sleep problems and changes in rhythms and schedules during successive lockdown periods [ 56 ], focusing on the age variable. Specifically, it was also confirmed that younger subjects faced greater sleep problems (falling asleep and waking up) compared to older subjects [ 57 , 58 ]. In the European Union Report of Lodovici [ 59 ], younger workers have struggled more with telework since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak.…”

Reconfiguring the Smartphone to Support Intentional Use

“…These negative effects are driven by different factors, such as personal habits and loneliness, and the typically those who experience PSU feel uncomfortable and irritated when the smartphone is not available [39]. The World Health Organization (WHO) puts a particular focus on the problematic use of mobile technologies by children, teenagers, and young adults [30]. Their concerns are that smartphone use might replace healthy behaviours and habits such as physical activity and sleep, and possibly lead to harmful habits such as reduced sleep, day-night reversal, malnutrition, headaches, neck pain, or even gambling disorders [23,30].…”

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) puts a particular focus on the problematic use of mobile technologies by children, teenagers, and young adults [30]. Their concerns are that smartphone use might replace healthy behaviours and habits such as physical activity and sleep, and possibly lead to harmful habits such as reduced sleep, day-night reversal, malnutrition, headaches, neck pain, or even gambling disorders [23,30]. Problematic smartphone use has historically been studied by researchers in addiction studies [39], though it has also made its entrance to HCI and design research over the past decade [23,28].…”

“…user estimates [30], while excessive use can lead to addiction, anxiety, irritation, frustration, or impatience [52]. Separation from the smartphone can provoke fear, unofficially called nomofobia [21] or even a sense of the self being lessened [43].…”

Recursos y obstáculos que influyen en el rendimiento académico de los adolescentes

“…Las investigaciones indican que un mayor riesgo de UPS (Bukhori et al, 2019;Grant et al, 2019;Winskel et al, 2019) y de UPRS (Azizi et al, 2019;Hou et al, 2019;Malak et al, 2022) se asocian con un peor rendimiento académico en estudiantes universitarios. Sin embargo, los estudios con adolescentes son más escasos, sugiriendo una asociación negativa entre el UPS y el rendimiento académico (Kliesener et al, 2022), mientras que pareciera no haber relación con el UPRS (Wartberg et al, 2020).…”