U-shaped relationship between problematic smartphone use and mind-wandering

Problematic smartphone use (PSU), characterized by addictive behaviors such as neglecting other activities and persisting despite harm, has become increasingly prevalent. Ritualized smartphone use, a habitual, unguided, and purposeless interaction with smartphones, reflects dependence on the device itself rather than on specific content, such as social media or games. Despite its significance, the concept of ritualized PSU lacks a rigorous, quantifiable operational definition, hindering empirical progress. This study proposes to operationalize ritualized PSU based upon the frequency of mind-wandering during smartphone use, a cognitive state reflecting low cognitive demand and drifting attention. We conducted a three-month ecological momentary assessment (EMA), collecting real-time self-reports on participant mind-wandering states in conjunction with smartphone screen on/off logs. Our analysis revealed a U-shaped relationship between PSU severity and the tendency to engage in mind-wandering during smartphone use. This finding provides empirical evidence of the inherent heterogeneity of PSU, and the existence of two distinct states: ritualized and non-ritualized PSU. Additionally, we discuss observed correlations between mind-wandering and social anxiety, providing further insight into psychological mechanisms underlying ritualized smartphone behaviors. These findings help to characterize ritualized PSU and highlight cognitive dimensions of this emerging phenomenon.