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Published on: June 16, 2018
Longitudinal relationships between perceived stress and problematic smartphone use among college students: The
Yunhong Shen1, Rumeng Tang1, Chuhan Wang2
1Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Background:
Although existing research have suggested a positive association between perceived stress and problematic smartphone use (PSU), most studies have examined only unidirectional relationships. The potential bidirectional effects and underlying cognitive mechanisms remain insufficiently explored. This study employed a Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model to examine the bidirectional association between perceived stress and PSU among college students, as well as the mediating role of executive function.
Methods:
A total of 6,153 Chinese college students (Mage = 21.04, SD = 1.30; 79.9 % females) participated in this three-wave longitudinal design with six-month intervals.
Results:
Results revealed a significant bidirectional association between perceived stress and PSU, with executive function mediating the effect of perceived stress on PSU, but not vice versa. Furthermore, multigroup analyses indicated no significant gender differences in these associations.
Discussion And Conclusions:
This study highlights the role of executive function in the stress-addiction relationship and suggests that enhancing cognitive regulation abilities may help break the cycle between stress and PSU among college students.
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