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Abstract Background Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is adversely correlated with resilience. To completely comprehend the mechanism underlying this relationship, however, more investigation is required. Methods For this cross-sectional study, the method of stratified random cluster sampling was applied. 834 Chinese undergraduate students (aged 17 to 24) were recruited, and self-reported questionnaires were administered to measure their levels of resilience, perceived social support, the sense of school belonging, and habitual and problematic smartphone use. Results The findings showed that resilience both directly and indirectly predicted PSU through perceived social support and the sense of school belonging. Additionally, there were significant moderating effects of habitual smartphone use between resilience and perceived social support, the sense of school belonging, and PSU. Conclusions Our research identified the negative influence of resilience on PSU, and specifically, highlighted the mediation effects of perceived social support and the sense of school belonging. Of significance, we also found the moderation effect of habitual smartphone use in the development of PSU.

Background: Academic burnout has been associated with problematic smartphone use. However, the mechanism underlying this relation has been inadequately explored during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and Methods: A total of 748 Chinese undergraduate students were recruited in the study who were measured with their levels of academic burnout, anxiety, resilience, and problematic smartphone use.Results: Our study showed that academic burnout significantly predicted problematic smartphone use both directly and indirectly via anxiety. By constructing a moderated mediation model, our study found that resilience moderated the direct impact and the second half of the indirect path (between anxiety and problematic smartphone use); however, with the moderation effects of resilience, both the indirect impact of academic burnout on problematic smartphone use via anxiety became insignificant.Conclusions: Our findings brought additional evidence on the association between academic burnout and problematic smartphone use and significantly suggested the potential solution to alleviate the influences.