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This study aimed to determine the predictive role that smartphone addiction plays in the associations between addiction to social media and general belonging, metacognition problems and perceived stress in university students. The study was conducted between October 2018 and March 2019 on a sample of 294 higher education students selected using the stratified sampling technique among students in their 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th years. The Demographic Information Form, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form, Social Media Addiction Scale, General Belongingness Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and Metacognition Scale were used. A positive significant correlation was found between the Smartphone Addiction Scale and Metacognition Scale. Additionally, a positive correlation was established between the Smartphone Addiction Scale and Perceived Stress Scale. A significant negative correlation was also found between the General Belongingness Scale and Smartphone Addiction Scale. The regression model for the ability of students' scores on the General Belongingness Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and Metacognition Scale to predict their scores on the Smartphone Addiction Scale was statistically significant. Therefore, it is important to take into consideration the perceived level of stress, metacognitive problems and sense of belongingness when attempting to understand the formation of addictions such as smartphone and social media addiction., Author(s): Asra Babayigit [sup.1] , Meryem Karaaziz [sup.2] , Hüseyin Aras Babayigit [sup.3] , Mustafa Sagsan [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/01jz1cr68, 0000 0004 4675 5724, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and [...]

Previous studies have found that poor social functioning is related to impaired facial expression recognition in individuals with Internet gaming disorder (IGD). However, these studies have focused on ordinary facial expression recognition and have not investigated micro-expression (ME) recognition. Thus, this study aimed to explore whether individuals with IGD have impairments in ME recognition and its psychological mechanism. In this study, 60 individuals with IGD and 60 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited to test their ME recognition ability using the Japanese and Caucasian Brief Affect Recognition Test (JACBART). Furthermore, their levels of IGD, depression, anxiety, and social anxiety were measured. The results were as follows: (1) the accuracy of recognizing MEs in individuals with IGD was significantly lower than that in HCs, and the reaction time (RT) in individuals with IGD was significantly longer than that in HCs; (2) the accuracy of recognizing happy MEs was significantly lower than that of recognizing angry MEs in individuals with IGD; (3) the score in the Interaction Anxiousness Scale was negatively correlated with the accuracy of recognizing happy MEs but positively correlated with the accuracy of recognizing angry MEs in individuals with IGD. These results implied that individuals with IGD had an overall impairment in ME recognition and a more significant impairment in the recognition of happy MEs; meanwhile, impairment in recognizing happy MEs was associated with social anxiety., Author(s): Liyan Fan [sup.1] , Jinbo He [sup.1] , Yang Zheng [sup.1] , Yufeng Nie [sup.1] , Taolin Chen [sup.2] , Hongmei Zhang [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.411407.7, 0000 0004 [...]

This research aims to highlight and understand the factors associated with excessive internet use. The population studied consisted of 904 students, aged 12 to 18 years. The study was conducted in Magnesia prefecture of central Greece, in a period after the economic recession, and participants came from a large urban area, a prefecture's capital, a municipal unit of the prefecture's capital and an island. Students were provided with the following questionnaires: Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C), and Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran: 'My Memories of Upbringing' for Children (EMBU-C). Participants were asked to fill out questionnaires about sociodemographic characteristics and the use of online activities. The findings indicated that 14.1% of students were excessive internet users, and social media was the principal reason for using the internet. Excessive internet users had increased symptoms of psychopathology, control-overprotection, rejection, anxious rearing, and decreased academic, emotional, social self-efficacy, and emotional warmth. Finally, the increased symptoms of psychopathology and parents' rejection were the predictive factors in excessive internet use. In conclusion, Greek adolescents participating in this study are susceptible to excessive internet use. Most importantly, rejection as a parental rearing practice and adolescents' psychopathology seemed to impact the development of addictive behavior and should be taken into consideration by future research., Author(s): Chrysanthi Lioupi [sup.1] , Maria Loumakou [sup.2] , Giasemi-Olga Sarafidou [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.410558.d, 0000 0001 0035 6670, Department of Primary Education, University of Thessaly, , 38221, Volos, [...]

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a major health problem worldwide. In addition to the physical effects of COVID-19 on individuals, it has caused psychological and social problems on individuals. One of these problems is related to feelings of loneliness they experienced during the pandemic process and the increase in aggression and smartphone addiction levels, which are thought to be related. The main goal of current research is to explore the effects of loneliness and aggression behaviors on smartphone addiction. The data of the study were obtained from 843 university students (565 female and 278 male; 17-54 age range) who voluntarily participated in the research from 68 of 81 provinces in Turkey. Research data were obtained based on participants' self-reports through an online questionnaire. Personal information form, Smartphone Addiction Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire were used as data collection tools. Research findings show that the feeling of loneliness affects aggression behaviors and smartphone addiction, and aggression behaviors also affect smartphone addiction. Therefore, it can be said that loneliness and aggression are variables in predicting university students' smartphone addiction., Author(s): Fatma Gizem Karaoglan Yilmaz [sup.1] , Ummuhan Avci [sup.2] , Ramazan Yilmaz [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.449350.f, 0000 0004 0369 647X, Faculty of Science, Department of Computer Technology & [...]

To explore the influence and mechanism of parent-child relationship on adolescents' problematic smartphone use, a sample of 3355 Chinese adolescents (M.sub.age=16.93, SD = 0.49, range: 14-19 years old; 48% boys) is recruited to measure parent-child relationship, problematic smartphone use, personal growth initiative, and school belonging. The results are as follows. (1) After controlling for gender, age and time spent online per day, parent-child relationship is negatively correlated with problematic smartphone use, and the negative association between parent-child relationship and problematic smartphone use is mediated by the personal growth initiative. (2) The association between parent-child relationship and problematic smartphone use, the association between parent-child relationship and personal growth initiative, and the association between personal growth initiative and problematic smartphone use are all moderated by school belonging and are stronger in adolescents with a high level of school belonging. The present study highlights the mediating role of personal growth initiative and the moderating role of school belonging in the association between parent-child relationship and problematic smartphone use. This study also contributes to a better understanding of the effects, paths, and conditions of parent-child relationship on the problematic smartphone use of adolescents and provides constructive suggestions for preventing adolescents' problematic smartphone use in the mobile Internet era., Author(s): Cai Zhang [sup.1] , Yiru Jiang [sup.1] , Chengwei Zhu [sup.1] , Mian Li [sup.1] , Xi Quan [sup.1] , Fumei Chen [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.20513.35, 0000 0004 [...]

Based on the hierarchical model of psychopathology, the theory of compensatory internet use, and the sociocultural self model of behaviour, this study examined whether social anxiety mediated the relationship between neuroticism and problematic online gaming, and whether this mediating process was moderated by family socioeconomic status (FSES). The theoretical model was tested using data collected from 598 Chinese undergraduates (M.sub.age = 19.45 years, SD = 1.63). These participants completed questionnaires anonymously. Testing for moderated mediation revealed that social anxiety partially mediated the association between neuroticism and problematic online gaming, with FSES moderating the second stage of it. Specifically, the indirect effect of neuroticism on problematic online gaming via social anxiety was significant only for undergraduates with low FSES. Results of this study extend research on the influencing factors of problematic online gaming and highlight the significance of uncovering the underlying mechanisms., Author(s): Xiaoyuan Chu [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Qi Wang [sup.4] , Weifeng Huang [sup.5] , Yuhui Wang [sup.6] , Jingyue Yu [sup.2] , Yang Zhou [sup.2] , Tiankuo Chen [sup.2] [...]

Literature shows that people who have experienced adverse experiences in childhood (ACE) have a low level of well-being and may be involved in risky behaviors, such as problematic use of technology. Also, those with a lower level of life satisfaction is associated with excessive use of the Internet and mobile phone. This study aimed to explore the relationship between ACE, life satisfaction and excessive use of technology (internet and smartphone). The study was conducted on Romanian population (n = 357), aged between 18 and 59 years (M = 22.42), university students (n = 286) and non-students (n = 71). PROCESS Macro model 4, was used to analyze the mediating role of satisfaction with life in the relationship between ACE and technology addiction. The results revealed an indirect effect of life satisfaction on problematic Internet (95% CI = .437-1.240), and mobile phone use (95% CI = .483-2.145). These indicate that at least some of this effect occurs through life satisfaction as mediating variable due to the significant indirect effect. Thus, people who experiences a high level of ACE will report a low level of satisfaction with life. Also, those with a low level of life satisfaction will report an excessive use of Internet and mobile phone. The results of this study bring extra knowledge and shed new light on the psychological aspects of the early traumatic events and contribute to the understanding of the way people relate to this experiences., Author(s): Otilia Ioana Tudorel [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.14004.31, 0000 0001 2182 0073, Department of Psychology, West University of Timisoara, , Vasile Pârvan Blvd., 300223, Timiòoara, Romania Introduction The concern [...]

Available data indicate that the frequency of Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) has been increasing over the years. Although there is some debate as to whether or not this behavior corresponds to true addiction, comorbidity has been found with problematic outcomes typically related to traditional addictions. Thus, there is interest in better understanding which individual variables interact with this behavior. The present study uses a large sex-balanced sample covering a wide age range to shed light on this question. The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between personality, assessed by Zuckerman's alternative five-factor model, and PSU. The possible mediating role of individual decision-making styles as well as the effect of sociodemographic variables such as age, sex, and social position are also investigated. The results indicated a strong association between Aggressiveness, Neuroticism, and, to a lesser extent, Sensation Seeking with PSU. The decision-making styles that were most related to the problematic use of smartphones were Avoidant and Spontaneous. Neuroticism, Sensation Seeking, and Aggression explained 24% of the variance of the PSU measure. Only Avoidant showed some incremental validity for this model. However, a mediation analysis by structural equation modeling revealed generally significant indirect effects for Avoidant and Spontaneous, explaining part of the effect of personality on the factor assessed by the PSU measure. The percentage of variance explained for latent scores ranged from 20-32%. The practical implications of the study and future research directions are discussed., Author(s): Patricia Urieta [sup.1] [sup.2] , Miguel A. Sorrel [sup.3] , Anton Aluja [sup.1] [sup.2] , Ferran Balada [sup.1] [sup.4] , Elena Lacomba [sup.1] [sup.2] , Luis F. García [sup.3] [...]

Self-control is always crucial in many areas of life. Therefore, self-control failure is the source of many of the difficulties people face in their lives and also at the center of several problems, especially among adolescents. In this regard, the purpose of the study was to examine the mediating role of multi-screen addiction (MSA) in the relationship between self-control and procrastination among adolescents by using structural equation modeling (SEM). A cross-sectional design and an online questionnaire was used in this study. The study group composed of 390 adolescents studying at various high schools in Turkey. The results of correlation analysis showed that self-control was negatively correlated with MSA and procrastination. MSA also positively correlated with procrastination. Furthermore, the findings showed that MSA mediated the relationship between self-control and procrastination. The fit index of the SEM was found to be satisfactory. The results of the study were addressed in the context of the existing literature, and then suggestions were presented., Author(s): Zeynep Simsir Gökalp [sup.1] , Mustafa Saritepeci [sup.2] , Hatice Yildiz Durak [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.17242.32, 0000 0001 2308 7215, Faculty of Education, Department of Guidance and Psychological [...]

The present study investigated the role of social web application use in the association between loneliness and pathological Internet use. A sample of university students (n = 445) completed an online survey of their loneliness and Internet use, including an assessment of pathological Internet use level. Based on existing theory and empirical findings, loneliness was expected to be indirectly associated with pathological Internet use through social-compensatory Internet use motives. The strength of this indirect effect was hypothesized to be moderated by levels of social web application use. Results pointed to the specificity of social-compensatory use motives in mediating loneliness effects on pathological Internet use, while the size of these effects was moderated by quantity of social web application use. Findings suggest that lonely people with higher levels of social web activity show a stronger social-compensatory use orientation, which translates to higher levels of pathological Internet use. Implications and limitations of these findings are discussed and several suggestions for future studies are made., Author(s): Andreas Reissmann [sup.1] , Klaus W. Lange [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.7727.5, 0000 0001 2190 5763, Institute of Psychology, University of Regensburg, , 93040, Regensburg, Germany Introduction Loneliness can [...]

Given recent concerns around the conceptualization of problematic smartphone use within a medical-addiction model, the objective of this work is to examine an alternative, adaptive, framework in which to conceptualize young adults' experiences of problematic smartphone use. Specifically, this work employed an attachment theory lens to understanding young adults' experiences of problematic smartphone use through examining the relationship between their attachment dimensions (i.e., attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance), their experiences of problematic smartphone use, and their use of their smartphone as an attachment target. Online questionnaires were administered to 403 participants (ages 18-25). Hierarchical Linear Regression and mediation analysis were used to examine the relationship between young adults' attachment dimensions, problematic smartphone use, and their use of their smartphone as an attachment target. Findings indicate that young adults higher in attachment anxiety (but not in attachment avoidance) experience more problematic smartphone use, and that this relationship is accounted for by their use of their smartphone as an attachment target. Results from this work support the use of an attachment theory framework for understanding what has typically been conceptualized as a behavioural addiction to smartphones., Author(s): Natasha Parent [sup.1] , Takara A. Bond [sup.1] , Jennifer D. Shapka [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.17091.3e, 0000 0001 2288 9830, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special [...]

Problematic smartphone use (PSU), which involves an excessive and uncontrolled use of smartphones, thereby causing daily-life disturbance, has been associated with a range of negative outcomes including anxiety, depression, and deficits in social relationships. However, the relationship between PSU and maximization, which could be an explanatory factor, has not yet been thoroughly studied. Drawing on the Interaction-Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model, the current study aimed to investigate the association between PSU and maximization with the assumption that fear of missing out (FoMO) and self-esteem could mediate this relationship. Empirical data were gathered from 277 Italian university students who completed an online survey. Correlation analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to investigate the relationships among the variables. The results showed that PSU, maximization, and FoMO were positively correlated; whereas maximization and self-esteem were negatively correlated. Furthermore, FoMO and self-esteem partially mediated that relationship, suggesting that participant maximizers experience more FoMO, especially when the participants have fear of missing out on potentially 'better' alternatives to social experiences and exhibit low self-esteem. Thus, higher FoMO and low self-esteem can be a driver of PSU. Finally, this study provides new insights about how maximization may have an impact on the development of addictive behaviour such as PSU., Author(s): Rocco Servidio [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.7778.f, 0000 0004 1937 0319, Department of Cultures, Education and Society, University of Calabria, , Via Pietro Bucci, Building Cube 20/B, 87036 Arcavacata [...]

The Test of Mobile Phone Dependence (TMD) is a questionnaire designed for appraising the main dimensions of problematic smartphone use in adolescence. This study evaluates the factor structure and psychometric properties of the TMD on a sample of 813 Italian middle and high school students. The original three-factor model (Abstinence, Lack of Control, and Tolerance) of the TMD was tested through a Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The results of the goodness of fit indices indicated a satisfactory solution. The overall TMD score showed a good level of internal consistency and good construct validity with the duration of use, age of possession of the first mobile phone, perceived self-efficacy, gender, and participants' age. The relationship between TMD and Nomophobia was also explored. Overall, the results indicate that the TMD is a valid and reliable assessment tool in Italian culture. However, reliability issues emerged on the subfactor Lack of Control. This indicates that the scores on this subfactor should be treated with caution., Author(s): Michela Vezzoli [sup.1] , Aurora Colombo [sup.1] , Alessandra Marano [sup.1] , Giorgia Zoccatelli [sup.1] , Cristina Zogmaister [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.7563.7, 0000 0001 2174 1754, Department of [...]

The current study was conducted to test the relationship between problematic internet use, sleep disturbance, and life satisfaction among Palestinians during the Covid-19 pandemic. The sample consisted of 366 Palestinian adults (129 males and 237 females), recruited from online advertisements, e-mail campaigns, social media, and SMS campaigns. Results of the correlational analysis showed that problematic internet use positively correlated with sleep disturbance (r = .19, p < .01), and negatively correlated with life satisfaction (r = -.17, p < .01). Moreover, life satisfaction negatively correlated to sleep disturbance (r = -.25, p < .01). The regression analysis for predicting problematic internet use found that life satisfaction contributes in a way that was statistically significant towards explaining variance in problematic Internet use (B = -.15, SE = .05, [beta] = -.15), in addition sleep disturbance explained statistically and significantly variance in problematic internet use (B = .16, SE = .04, [beta] = .20). Intervention programs directed at decreasing internet use may need to be updated to better address the issues of 'necessary' excessive use during COVID-19 restrictions and re-entry into normalized activity patterns when shut-downs are finished. As a completely new area of investigation, this study can serve as an impetus to further examinations of these important topics., Author(s): Fayez Azez Mahamid [sup.1] , Denise Ziya Berte [sup.2] , Dana Bdier [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.11942.3f, 0000 0004 0631 5695, Psychology and Counseling Department, An-Najah National University, , [...]

Nomophobia is considered as the 'disorder of modern world' and defined as 'fear of being without access to a mobile phone.' This study investigated gender differences in the relationship between problematic Internet use and nomophobia. Structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was employed to assess the relationship between nomophobia and four dimensions of the problematic Internet use, including diminished impulse control, loneliness/depression, social comfort, and distraction. The study used the Online Cognition Scale (OCS) and Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) to collect data from 490 undergraduate students. Results indicated that loneliness/depression, distraction, and diminished impulse control were significantly related to nomophobia. However, there was not a significant relationship between social comfort and nomophobia. Further, multi group analysis results suggested notable gender differences in the relationship between problematic Internet use and nomophobia. The results for women indicated that loneliness/depression, diminished-impulse control, and distraction have a positive and significant relationship with nomophobia. Whereas only loneliness/depression and distraction were found to be significantly related to nomophobia among men. The results indicated a statistically significant difference in nomophobia and problematic Internet use between women and men subjects, where women subjects scored higher than the men., Author(s): Ibrahim Arpaci [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.411550.4, 0000 0001 0689 906X, Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University, , Tokat, Turkey Introduction > The term nomophobia [...]

With the popularity of social network sites (SNSs) among the younger generation, adolescent SNS addiction has become a serious and highly-concerned problem in modern society. Based on the perspective of positive psychology, the current study focused on the protective role of emotional resilience on SNS addiction among adolescents. Specifically, this study tested the mediating effect of emotional expressivity in the association between emotional resilience and SNS addiction, and whether the mediating processes were moderated by Type D personality. The research model was examined with 699 Chinese high school students (mean age = 13.31 years, SD = 0.79; 51.93% were boys). Our mediation analysis revealed that the ability to generate positive emotions (a mechanism of emotional resilience) positively predicted SNS addiction via increasing positive expressivity; the ability to recover quickly from negative emotions (another mechanism of emotional resilience) negatively predicted SNS addiction directly and via decreasing positive and negative expressivity. Moreover, the moderated mediation analysis indicated that Type D personality moderated the association between positive expressivity and SNS addiction, as well as the relationship between negative expressivity and SNS addiction. These findings highlight the importance of uncovering the mechanisms underlying the links between emotional resilience and SNS addiction, which helps to reduce the risk of SNS addiction among adolescents., Author(s): Jia Nie [sup.1] , Wendi Li [sup.2] , Jie Long [sup.1] , Pan Zeng [sup.1] , Pengcheng Wang [sup.1] , Li Lei [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.24539.39, 0000 0004 [...]