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The Influence of Interpersonal Sensitivity on Smartphone Addiction: A Moderated Mediation Model
Li Lin1, Xiaochen Wang1, Qing Li1
1School of Business Administration, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China.
Frontiers in Psychology
|August 9, 2021
Summary
Interpersonal sensitivity predicts smartphone addiction in college students, with fear of missing out acting as a mediator. Relational self-construal influences this relationship, offering new intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Digital Health
Background:
- Smartphone addiction is a growing concern impacting mental health, academic performance, and social interactions.
- Compensatory Internet Use Theory provides a framework for understanding excessive technology use.
- Interpersonal sensitivity is a key factor potentially linked to problematic smartphone use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and smartphone addiction in college students.
- To examine the mediating role of fear of missing out (FoMO) in this relationship.
- To explore the moderating effects of relational self-construal on the mediated pathway.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative study involving 881 college students.
- Utilized validated scales: Interpersonal Sensitivity Scale, Smartphone Addiction Scale, FoMO Scale, and Relational Self-Construal Scale.
- Statistical analysis using AMOS 26.0 and SPSS 24.0 for confirmatory factor analysis and hypothesis testing.
Main Results:
- Interpersonal sensitivity positively correlated with FoMO and smartphone addiction.
- FoMO significantly mediated the link between interpersonal sensitivity and smartphone addiction.
- Relational self-construal moderated both the direct effect of interpersonal sensitivity on FoMO and the indirect effect through FoMO.
Conclusions:
- Fear of missing out and relational self-construal significantly moderate the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and smartphone addiction.
- Findings offer a novel moderated mediation model for understanding smartphone addiction.
- Results provide a theoretical basis for developing targeted psychotherapeutic interventions and educational strategies for college students.
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