The Prevalence and Predictors of Problematic Mobile Phone Use: a 14-Country Empirical Survey

Kalaitzaki, Argyroula; Laconi, Stéphanie; Spritzer, Daniel Tornaim; Hauck, Simone; Gnisci, Augusto; Sergi, Ida; Vally, Zahir; Tudorel, Otilia Ioana; Vintilă, Mona; Malik, Sadia; Diaz, Jano Ramos; Männikkö, Niko; Çıkrıkçı, Özkan; Salas, Gonzalo; Ardila, Rubén; Zambrano, Danilo; López-Calle, Claudio; Sahlan, Reza N.

doi:10.1007/s11469-022-00901-2

Cited by 17 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…PIU (e.g., Facebook use) has been associated with narcissistic or avoidant personality, 17 , 26 - 28 and PSU has been associated with narcissistic, avoidant, or dependent personality. 16 , 29 - 32 The pathologic users of the three media seem to combine characteristics of the three personality traits. They plausibly have avoidant traits of resorting to virtual life because they try to avoid distressing experiences, discomfort, loneliness, or other difficulties in real life, 7 , 31 , 33 dependent traits of over-engagement as a means to maintain relationships because of their fear of separation/being left alone 28 and their need to be reassured, and narcissistic traits of self-presentation through these media (e.g., posting and uploading photos).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…PSU has been associated with neuroticism and impulsivity, 14 though the effect sizes were small to moderate. 15 Kalaitzaki et al 16 have shown dependent (Cluster C), histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders (Cluster B) to be consistent predictors of PSU in the overall and most of the 14 samples.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In large cross-cultural studies, maladaptive coping was a positive predictor of both PIU 13 and PSU. 16 The specific maladaptive coping strategies implicated in the problematic use of each technology tool need to be examined.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Problematic Internet, Smartphone, and SMS Use among Adults: Shared and Unique Predictors

2022

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Background: Although a surge of interest has recently emerged in investigating the simultaneous problematic use of various technology-based tools, the findings are still inconclusive. The present web-based survey aimed at examining whether (a) personality traits, coping strategies, and sociodemographics are associated with problematic internet, smartphone, and SMS use among Greek users and (b) personality traits mediate the relationship between maladaptive coping strategies and problematic use of the three media. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: A convenience and snowball sample of 1016 participants (84.4% female, mean age of 30.3 years) completed the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire-9 (PIUQ-9), the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale (MPPUS), the Self-Perception of Text Message Dependency Scale (STDS), the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire 4+(PDQ-4+), and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief COPE). Results: Shared predictors between problematic use of the three technology-based tools were younger age and low educational level, the coping strategy of substance use, and the narcissistic, avoidant, and dependent personality disorders. Predictors of problematic internet and smartphone use were coping strategies of emotional support, self-distraction, and behavioral disengagement. According to structural equation models (SEM) models, cluster C personality disorders fully mediate the relationship between maladaptive coping strategies and problematic use of technology-based tools. Conclusion: Addressing factors that predispose (i.e., personality traits), precipitate, or maintain problematic use (i.e., coping strategies) can lead to effective and cost-saving preventive (i.e., screening of vulnerable groups) and therapeutic efforts (i.e., teaching adaptive coping strategies).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Problematic Internet, Smartphone, and SMS Use among Adults: Shared and Unique Predictors

2022

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“…For instance, research has shown that gambling is associated with a significant decrease in mature defenses and an increase in immature defense mechanisms (Ciobotaru & Clinciu, 2022 ; Comings et al ., 1995 ). Similarly, recent findings suggest that immature and autistic defense mechanisms may contribute to problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) in adults, as they may serve as a means of escaping anxiety and stress (Kalaitzaki et al ., 2022 ). Some studies have suggested an association between immature defenses and PIU, such as projection, denial, autistic fantasy, passive aggression, and displacement (Waqas et al ., 2016 ; Laconi et al ., 2017 ; Vally et al ., 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Problematic internet use in emerging adulthood to escape from maternal helicopter parenting: defensive functioning as a mediating mechanism

Carone,

Benzi,

Muzi

et al. 2023

RES PSYCHOTHER-PSYCH

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The increasing use of the Internet has raised concerns about its problematic use, particularly among emerging adults who grew up in a highly digitalized world. Helicopter parenting, characterized by excessive involvement, overcontrol, and developmentally inappropriate behavior, has been identified as a potential factor contributing to problematic Internet use (PIU). Under these circumstances, considering that emerging adults navigate their adult lives and strive to reduce their sense of being in-between, implicit emotion regulation strategies, such as defense mechanisms, may help comprehend PIU. The present questionnaire-based study investigated the associations between maternal and paternal helicopter parenting and PIU through defensive functioning among a community sample of 401 cisgender emerging adults (71.82% females; 82.04% heterosexuals; Mage=24.85, SD=2.52) living in Italy. About one-fourth (25.19%) reported PIU. Greater maternal, B=0.904, SE=0.235, p<.001, but not paternal, B=0.343, SE=0.188, p=.068, helicopter parenting was significantly associated with PIU through a less mature defensive functioning. Conversely, neither maternal, B=1.158, SE=0.722, p=.109, nor paternal, B=0.355, SE=0.731, p=.628, helicopter parenting had a direct association with PIU. The results suggest the importance for psychotherapists to incorporate individuals’ defense mechanisms and parent–child relationship history when designing tailored interventions for effective treatment of PIU. This emphasis is crucial because, in the context of a developmentally appropriate parenting style, relying on more mature defenses after psychotherapeutic intervention can lead to healthier adjustment among emerging adults.

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“…Luk and other scholars have developed a Chinese version of the smartphone addiction scale, which has an internal consistency coefficient of 0.84 [ 30 ], and it is well adapted in the context of Chinese culture. Smartphone addiction is becoming increasingly prominent as a public health problem, as a recent survey of 7531 adults in 14 countries showed that the prevalence of smartphone addiction was 28.1% [ 31 ]. Some scholars have found that the proportion of smartphone addiction among undergraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic is 37–51% [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Undergraduates’ Social Isolation on Smartphone Addiction: The Roles of Academic Anxiety and Social Media Use

Zeng

Zhang

Wei

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The COVID-19 pandemic has an adverse effect on the physical health of societies and individuals. One important concern is the effect of social isolation on the mental health of undergraduates, such as academic anxiety, smartphone addiction and other social psychological problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate associations among undergraduates’ social isolation in this special context, social media use for obtaining information about the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., communicative and non-communicative), academic anxiety, and smartphone addiction. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to June in 2022 and a total of 388 undergraduates were included. The results showed significant positive associations between social isolation and smartphone addiction and academic anxiety. Furthermore, academic anxiety played a mediating role in the effect of social isolation on smartphone addiction, which was moderated by non-communicative social media use. Some theoretical and practical implications as well as research limitations are discussed.

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The Prevalence and Predictors of Problematic Mobile Phone Use: a 14-Country Empirical Survey

Cited by 17 publications

References 54 publications

Problematic Internet, Smartphone, and SMS Use among Adults: Shared and Unique Predictors

Problematic Internet, Smartphone, and SMS Use among Adults: Shared and Unique Predictors

Problematic internet use in emerging adulthood to escape from maternal helicopter parenting: defensive functioning as a mediating mechanism

The Impact of Undergraduates’ Social Isolation on Smartphone Addiction: The Roles of Academic Anxiety and Social Media Use

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