Can Disordered Mobile Phone Use Be Considered a Behavioral Addiction? An Update on Current Evidence and a Comprehensive Model for Future Research

Abstract

Despite the many positive outcomes, excessive mobile phone use is now often associated with potentially harmful and/or disturbing behaviors (e.g., symptoms of deregulated use, negative impact on various aspects of daily life such as relationship problems, and work intrusion). Problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) has generally been considered as a behavioral addiction that shares many features with more established drug addictions. In light of the most recent data, the current paper reviews the validity of the behavioral addiction model when applied to PMPU. On the whole, it is argued that the evidence supporting PMPU as an addictive behavior is scarce. In particular, it lacks studies that definitively show behavioral and neurobiological similarities between mobile phone addiction and other types of legitimate addictive behaviors. Given this context, an integrative pathway model is proposed that aims to provide a theoretical framework to guide future research in the field of PMPU. This model highlights that PMPU is a heterogeneous and multi-faceted condition.

Development and Validation of the Mobile Addiction Scale: The Components Model Approach

“…In addition, mobile addiction was determined to relate to tolerance at a high level and to salience at a low level. This study supports the studies of Billieux et al (2015) in that it determined tolerance to be a significant criterion and revealed the criterion tendency to use mobile Internet is more significant than the criteria of withdrawal, relapse, or salience.…”

“…The first studies on mobile addiction started at the turn of the century and were not included in the literature until the recognition of Internet, video game, and online game addictions (Billieux et al, 2015;Carbonell, Guardiola, Beranuy, & Belles, 2009). After smartphones took their place among humanity, studies focused more on the concept mentioned as mobile addiction, or nomophobia, in the literature (Billieux, Vander Linden, & Rochat, 2008;King et al, 2013;Kwon et al, 2013).…”

“…This model has been applied to several behavioral addictions such as television, computer gaming, gambling, and Internet, but has not yet been applied to mobile phone addiction. Nor does the concept of mobile addiction have enough empirical support (Billieux, Maurage, Fernandez, Kuss, & Griffiths, 2015). In this context, no scale has been encountered relating to mobile addiction within the framework of behavioral addictions.…”

Problematic Use of the Internet and Smartphones in University Students: 2006–2017

“…This evolution of preference for the phone over the computer was also observed for the accessing of leisure activities, which decreases the dominance of the computer in the professional and educational spheres 8 . Due to its popularity and because it is a relatively new device, the smartphone has raised concerns about its potential to be addictive [9][10][11][12] . This concern is in line with the development of concern about other possible behavioral addictions such as to the Internet or social media 13 .…”

The Chinese adaptation of Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short version in Hong Kong adults: a population study

“…The World Health Organization also regards PMPU as a growing public health issue [3]. However, partly due to the use of diverse methods in assessing PMPU, very limited is known about the prevalence and course of PMPU and its conceptualization has remained a subject of debate [4]. A valid and reliable PMPU measure that permits cross-cultural comparison is needed.…”