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Problematic smartphone use in a representative sample of US adults: Prevalence and predictors
Lucien Rochat1, Germano Vera Cruz2, Elias Aboujaoude3
1Addiction Division, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Faculty of Psychology, UniDistance, Brig, Switzerland.
Addictive Behaviors
|December 19, 2024
Summary
Problematic smartphone use (PSU) prevalence is low (0.75-1.2%) when functional impairment is considered. Key predictors include usage behaviors, parental status, pandemic effects, age, and psychopathology.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Digital Media Studies
Background:
- Global smartphone adoption has surged, raising concerns about problematic smartphone use (PSU).
- Previous PSU prevalence estimates vary widely (20-30%) due to inconsistent definitions.
- A clear, functional impairment-based definition is needed to accurately assess PSU.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence of PSU using a functional impairment criterion.
- To identify demographic, contextual, behavioral, and mental health predictors of PSU.
- To differentiate between intensive smartphone use and pathological problematic smartphone use.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional online survey of a representative U.S. sample (n=1,989).
- Utilized two complementary machine learning algorithms for data analysis.
- Defined and measured PSU based on functional impairment in key life areas.
Main Results:
- Functionally impairing PSU prevalence was estimated at 0.75% to 1.2%.
- Primary predictors included smartphone usage behaviors, parental status, increased use during COVID-19, age, and psychopathological factors.
- Smartphone use intensity alone does not equate to problematic use.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of functionally impairing PSU is significantly lower than previously reported.
- Diagnosing PSU requires assessing impact on functioning to avoid pathologizing common behaviors.
- Findings inform targeted prevention strategies for problematic smartphone use.
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