Experiences of Smartphone Addiction among University Students

Abstract

The high rates of smartphone usage among younger people and the negative impacts are well-known, but there remains a paucity of qualitative research on the topic. This study was designed to explore the experiences of university students addicted to smartphones. The author conducted in-depth individual interviews with 17 university students who scored in the upper 5th percentile on a smartphone addiction scale. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Students with a smartphone addiction were trapped in a vicious cycle. More specifically, they were "Realizing something was wrong with withdrawal symptoms," "Having negative consequences," "Seeking escape," and "Staying addicted." This study helped participating students realize their addiction and disclose their emotional and interpersonal difficulties related to their smartphone use. These understandings may be used to refine and further develop school-based programs to better help those addicted to smartphones to recover.

Smartphone overdependence and quality of life in college students: Focusing on the mediating effect of social withdrawal

“…A full mediated effect of social withdrawal was discovered in the relationship between smartphone overdependence and quality of life. This supports previous findings that higher smartphone overdependence corresponds to higher social withdrawal ( 10 , 11 ) and that there is a significant relationship between social withdrawal and quality of life ( 7 , 9 , 16 ). It can be concluded that greater smartphone overdependence leads to a greater sense of social withdrawal, which eventually reduces college students' quality of life.…”

“…Further, research suggests that smartphone overdependence increases college students' sense of social withdrawal because excessive smartphone use leads them to prefer relationships in the virtual world over interpersonal relationships in the real world ( 11 ). As a result, they lack real-world interpersonal skills and are placed in a situation where they are socially isolated ( 24 ).…”

“…Jang and Ha ( 4 ), who studied smartphone overdependence in college students, found that the average daily smartphone use time of respondents was 5.35 hours, with 20.9% reporting 6 or more hours of use. Jin ( 11 ) also reported that college students who are addicted to smartphones never stop using them even for short periods excluding sleeping hours and experience withdrawal symptoms. Lee and Kim ( 2 ) found that the high-risk smartphone user group accounts for 8.3% and the potential-risk user group for 20.8%.…”

“…Smartphone overdependence in college students can have serious consequences. Jin ( 11 ) found that halting smartphone use led individuals to experience negative emotions such as anxiety, agitation, discomfort, restlessness, and frustration. This finding implies that smartphone overdependence reduces college students' quality of life.…”

“…This can lead to their being criticized by families and friends for their smartphone overdependence and ultimately to the severance of primary social relationships. This isolation results in students falling into a vicious cycle because it reinforces smartphone overdependence ( 11 ). This process indicates a link between smartphone overdependence and social withdrawal, which is a tendency to have difficulties in relationships with others and a desire to live alone ( 7 ).…”