Self-Esteem and Problematic Smartphone Use Among Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model of Depression and Interpersonal Trust

Abstract

Research has found that self-esteem is negatively associated with problematic smartphone use (PSU). However, the internal mechanisms underlying that relationship need further investigation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of depression and interpersonal trust in the relationship between self-esteem and PSU among adolescents. A questionnaire comprised of the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Inclusive General Trust Scale (IGTS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and personal questions was administered to 637 students (female = 355) at two middle schools in Shanghai, China. Correlation analyses, mediation analysis, and moderated mediation analysis were performed. A moderated mediation model was established, which revealed: (1) a significant negative association between self-esteem and PSU, (2) depression mediated the relationship between self-esteem and PSU, and (3) the influence of depression on the relationship between self-esteem and PSU was moderated by interpersonal trust. The results indicated that low self-esteem was a risk factor, and interpersonal trust was a moderating factor for PSU among adolescents in the sample. Building adolescents' self-esteem and increasing their interpersonal trust might decrease their PSU.

Cell Phone Addiction in Adolescents: A Narrative Review

“…In another study on a group of Chinese middle school students (N=637), self-esteem was negatively associated with problematic smartphone use [57]. In this study, low self-esteem was a risk factor for problematic smartphone use, but depression mediated the relationship between low self-esteem and problematic smartphone use.…”

The relationships between negative emotions and latent classes of smartphone addiction

“…In terms of depression, previous study suggests that smartphone usage may be considered as an experiential avoidance strategy to divert aversive emotional content [ 35 ]. This may be because smartphone offers a virtual environment, in which individuals can not only find some available information or substitute resources, but also freely share and express their negative affects.…”

“…The more the available information lacks, the more severe individual’s negative emotion becomes. An individual will experience negative emotions when his (or her) needs are not being met (lacking of the available information), at the moment, virtual resources such as smartphones will be got as an alternative [ 35 ]. In addition, previous studies have demonstrated that the individual’s needs can be generalized.…”

Fear of Missing Out and Smartphone Addiction Mediates the Relationship Between Positive and Negative Affect and Sleep Quality Among Chinese University Students

“…As a form of technological addiction or one of generalized internet addictions (34)(35)(36)(37), smartphone addiction is also described as "an inability by individuals to regulate their use of smartphones and which eventually leads to negative consequences and clinical impairment in daily life" (38). Some risk factors of smartphone addiction have been examined such as negative affect (e.g., depression, anxiety and loneliness), low Internet selfefficacy, high impulsivity, as well as narcissism (39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45). In studies of smartphone addiction, Additionally, smartphone addiction has shown demonstrable association with alcohol use disorder symptoms, specific mental health diagnoses (i.e., ADHD, anxiety, depression, and PTSD), poor scholastic performance (46), vision problems (47), driving risk (48), and musculoskeletal pain (49)(50)(51)(52).…”