Effect of Self-Affirmation on Smartphone Use Reduction Among Heavy Users

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Health Behavior
• Digital Well-being

Background:

• Excessive smartphone use is linked to health problems.
• Health risk information may be rejected by heavy users due to self-affirmation theory.
• Self-affirmation can mitigate defensive responses to health information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if self-affirmation increases heavy smartphone users' motivation to reduce usage.
• To examine the impact of affirming personal values on receptiveness to health risk information.

Main Methods:

• 142 undergraduate students completed a self-affirmation writing task.
• Participants reported daily smartphone use and motivation to reduce it.
• Exposure to health risk information followed the writing task.

Main Results:

• Heavy users who did not self-affirm showed lower motivation to reduce use compared to light users.
• Self-affirmed heavy users demonstrated significantly higher motivation to reduce smartphone use.
• The effect of self-affirmation was not observed in light smartphone users.

Conclusions:

• Self-affirmation enhances the effectiveness of health risk information for heavy smartphone users.
• Combining self-affirmation with health risk messaging can reduce excessive smartphone usage.
• This approach offers a strategy to promote healthier digital habits among vulnerable populations.