Jon D Elhai1, Dmitri Rozgonjuk2, Caglar Yildirim3, Ahmad M Alghraibeh4, Ali A Alafnan4. 1. Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China; Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA. Electronic address: contact@jon-elhai.com. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA; Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. 3. Department of Computer Science, State University of New York at Oswego, NY, USA. 4. Department of Psychology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is associated with depression and anxiety symptom severity throughout the literature. However, many important psychopathology constructs have not been examined for associations with PSU severity. Worry and anger are two psychopathology constructs receiving little empirical scrutiny in relation to PSU, but theoretically should demonstrate significant relationships. Furthermore, few studies have used person-centered analyses, such as mixture modeling, to analyze possible latent subgroups of individuals based on PSU symptom ratings. METHOD: We conducted a web survey of 300 American college students, using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, Penn State Worry Questionnaire-Abbreviated Version, and Dimensions of Anger Reactions-5 Scale. RESULTS: Conducting mixture modeling using latent profile analysis, we found most support for a three-class model of latent groups of individuals based on their PSU item ratings. Adjusting for age and sex, worry and anger scores were significantly higher in the more severe PSU classes. DISCUSSION: Results are discussed in the context of uses and gratifications theory, as well as compensatory internet use theory, in terms of individual differences explaining excessive technology use. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the non-clinical nature of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: Worry and anger may be helpful constructs in understanding the phenomenology of PSU, and psychological interventions for worry and anger may offset PSU.
BACKGROUND: Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is associated with depression and anxiety symptom severity throughout the literature. However, many important psychopathology constructs have not been examined for associations with PSU severity. Worry and anger are two psychopathology constructs receiving little empirical scrutiny in relation to PSU, but theoretically should demonstrate significant relationships. Furthermore, few studies have used person-centered analyses, such as mixture modeling, to analyze possible latent subgroups of individuals based on PSU symptom ratings. METHOD: We conducted a web survey of 300 American college students, using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, Penn State Worry Questionnaire-Abbreviated Version, and Dimensions of Anger Reactions-5 Scale. RESULTS: Conducting mixture modeling using latent profile analysis, we found most support for a three-class model of latent groups of individuals based on their PSU item ratings. Adjusting for age and sex, worry and anger scores were significantly higher in the more severe PSU classes. DISCUSSION: Results are discussed in the context of uses and gratifications theory, as well as compensatory internet use theory, in terms of individual differences explaining excessive technology use. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the non-clinical nature of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: Worry and anger may be helpful constructs in understanding the phenomenology of PSU, and psychological interventions for worry and anger may offset PSU.
Authors: Zubair Ahmed Ratan; Anne-Maree Parrish; Sojib Bin Zaman; Mohammad Saud Alotaibi; Hassan Hosseinzadeh Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-22 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Barbara Chuen Yee Lo; Romance Nok Man Lai; Ting Kin Ng; Haobi Wang Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-10-22 Impact factor: 3.390