Psychosocial and Behavioral Factors Associated with Excessive Smartphone Use Among Korean Adolescents: A National...

Background/Objectives: Excessive smartphone use has emerged as an important behavioral health concern during adolescence, a developmental period characterized by heightened psychosocial vulnerability. This study aimed to identify psychosocial and behavioral factors associated with excessive smartphone use among Korean adolescents using nationally representative data. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2024 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS), including 54,653 adolescents. Excessive smartphone use was operationally defined as average daily smartphone use of ≥300 min. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to examine associated factors. An exploratory machine learning analysis using a Light Gradient Boosting Machine included 52,450 participants with complete predictor data. Results: Female sex, higher grade level, lower perceived socioeconomic status, higher perceived daily stress, higher anxiety symptoms, poorer sleep-related recovery, suicidal ideation, and more frequent vigorous physical activity were associated with higher odds of excessive smartphone use. The supplementary modeling approach showed patterns consistent with the regression findings, with grade level, socioeconomic status, and sex contributing prominently. Vigorous physical activity demonstrated a nonlinear association with predicted risk. Conclusions: Excessive smartphone use among adolescents appears to be shaped by developmental stage, socioeconomic context, and psychological vulnerability. These findings support prevention strategies that address emotional well-being and sleep health alongside broader structural and school-based approaches.