Examining the Relationship between Phubbing and Mental Health among University Students: A Mixed Study

Abstract

This study aims to examine the association between phubbing in college students and mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress), the dimensions of the association, and the source of this association. The study has the characteristics of an explanatory sequential mixed design, in which qualitative data from mixed designs are interpreted to explain quantitative data. In the quantitative phase of the study, data were collected from 305 participants using the General Phubbing Scale and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). In this phase, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, regression analysis, and independent samples t-test were applied to the collected data. In the second phase, in which qualitative data were collected, data were gathered through focus group interviews with 12 participants who had participated in the quantitative phase of the study. From the quantitative results of the study, it was found that there was a positive and significant relationship between nomophobia, interpersonal conflict, self-isolation, and problem acceptance - the sub-dimensions of the Phubbing Scale - and anxiety, depression, and stress - the sub-dimensions of the DASS-21 Scale. However, mental health was found to predict phubbing behaviour. In terms of gender, it can be said that female students experience more phobia, anxiety, depression, and stress than male students. According to the results of the qualitative research phase, the participants of the focus group interview indicated that the individuals who exhibit phubbing behaviours are introverted, lonely and abandoned, shy, anxious, poor in communication, and technology dependent. In addition, reasons for interest in smartphones may include relaxation, boredom, avoiding people, escaping stress and depression, escaping negative situations, motivation, following the daily activities of others, or escaping chat environments that do not interest them and that they consider unimportant.