Problematic Mobile Phone Use and Addiction Across Generations: the Roles of Psychopathological Symptoms and...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Mobile technology use has surged, leading to concerns about overuse.
• Potential negative consequences include addiction, financial issues, dangerous usage (e.g., driving), and prohibited use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the predictive power of psychopathological symptoms and mobile phone usage patterns.
• To investigate these predictors across Generation X and Generation Y regarding problematic mobile phone use.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 273 adults participated in the study.
• Data collected included psychopathological symptoms (depression, anxiety, stress) and mobile phone use metrics (calls, SMS, time spent, specific activities).
• Statistical analyses were performed to identify predictors of problematic mobile phone use.

Main Results:

• Prohibited use and dependence were predicted by call frequency, time spent on the phone, and social media engagement.
• Stress was a significant predictor only for dependent mobile phone use.
• Social media use and anxiety predicted Generation Y membership, while call frequency predicted Generation X membership.

Conclusions:

• Mobile phone overuse presents risks, with specific usage patterns and psychological factors contributing to problematic use.
• Generational differences in communication preferences (social media vs. calls) were observed.
• Findings inform prevention and awareness strategies for educators, parents, and individuals regarding mobile phone dependence and prohibited use.