Psychological predictors of problem mobile phone use

Journal of Postgraduate Medicine Education and Research, 2012

Background and objective: Mobile phones have become an essential part and parcel of modern life. Some of the studies have shown potentially adverse consequences of excessive mobile phone use. Aim of this study was to explore the pattern of mobile phone use among young adults and evaluate the mobile phone use pattern on the substance dependence criteria and assess the adverse consequences of mobile phone use. Materials and methods: A 46-item questionnaire based on the ICD-10 substance dependence syndrome criteria, CAGE questionnaire and keeping the possible adverse consequences of excessive use in mind was given to the participants. Results: A total of 212 young adults with a mean age of 21.6 years participated in the study. About one-third of the participants met three or more of the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for substance dependence and more than half (57.1%) fulfilled two or more items on the CAGE questionnaire. Those who fulfilled the dependence criteria spent more time per day on the mobile phone and more frequently had harmful consequences on various aspects of life. Conclusion: Excessive mobile phone use is associated with adverse consequences in different spheres of life and some subjects use it in dependent pattern.

Journal of Public Health, 2011

Aim

Encyclopedia of Mobile Phone Behavior

Despite its many undoubted advantages, mobile phone use has been associated with harmful and/or maladaptive behaviour. Problematic mobile phone use is considered as an inability of individuals to regulate their use of the mobile phone, and it eventually leads to negative consequences in daily life. The first goal of this article is to define and conceptualize the various facets of dysfunctional mobile phone use. The second goal is to describe the various steps of validating an instrument to assess problematic mobile phone use. Such an instrument needs to (1.) specify the user's mobile phone behaviour (i.e., the applications they use on their mobile phone), (2.) provide accurate measures of actual mobile phone use, and (3.) assess the extent of problematic mobile phone use. A comprehensive review of the existing validated questionnaires is provided. The theoretical and methodological limitations of the existing measures are then discussed.

Problematic use of mobile phones is an abnormal, but relatively widespread form of consumer consumption which has a range of negative social and financial consequences for many individuals. It is defined here as “a person’s perceived tendency to chronically use mobile phone services in excess of their needs and resources”. Although substantial research exists on problematic behaviour in the tangible goods sector, our understanding of problematic consumption of a service based ‘good’ like mobile phone use is limited. Research is hampered by the current conceptual and psychometric measures, as well as few theoretical explanations of underlying mechanisms and drivers for this problematic behaviour. This thesis develops a self-report instrument to assess different types or behavioural dimensions of problematic mobile phone use, which is informed by three related literatures from the consumer behaviour and clinical fields: impulsive buying, compulsive buying, and behavioural addiction. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses support the existence of four, a priori hypothesised dimensions in the Problematic Use of Mobile Phones (PUMP) scale: (1) impulsive use, (2) mounting tension, (3) dependency, and (4) control loss. The study also develops a second multi-factorial multi-item scale to assess a range of negative consequences from problematic mobile use such as: (1) financial difficulties, (2) productivity loss, (3) relationship damage, (4) emotional tethering, (5) physical symptoms, and (6) driving distraction. Findings indicate that these six-dimensions of the Negative Consequences scale associate differently with the four-dimensional PUMP scale. This suggests the behavioural outcomes are caused by a variety of underlying drivers including automatic actions, strong negative affective states, and materialistic value orientation. A new theoretical framework is proposed here, drawing on time-inconsistent preferences and automaticity theories, and provides insight into motivations for each aspect of problematic usage. This framework is evaluated with an additional sample which captures eight different measures of distal and proximal motives. The motivation study supports the view that problematic mobile behaviour results from individuals seeking to achieve a more ideal state and improve their mood state. This suggests problematic use of mobile phones is primarily a form of compensatory consumption. The findings demonstrate that a consumer behaviour approach to problematic consumption in the services sector of the marketplace can supplement the dominant addiction model used in the clinical field in studies on problematic consumption. Through a blended approach this thesis is able to identify four distinct aspects of problematic mobile phone behaviour, and shed light on both its motives and outcomes. This research makes theoretical and practical contributions by providing an instrument that can accurately identify the behaviour, outcomes and antecedents of problematic mobile phone use. Results show that dysfunctional buyer behaviour does occur within the services sector of the marketplace. Studying abnormal forms of consumer behaviour contributes to the consumer behaviour field as a whole (Faber & O’Guinn, 1988b; Hirschman, 1992).

Internet-enabled smartphones are increasingly ubiquitous in the Western world. Research suggests a number of problems can result from mobile phone overuse, including dependence, dangerous and prohibited use. For over a decade, this has been measured by the Problematic Mobile Phone Use Questionnaire (PMPU-Q). Given the rapid developments in mobile technologies, changes of use patterns and possible problematic and addictive use, the aim of the present study was to investigate and validate an updated contemporary version of the PMPU-Q (PMPU-Q-R). A mixed methods convergent design was employed, including a psychometric survey (N = 512) alongside qualitative focus groups (N = 21), to elicit experiences and perceptions of problematic smartphone use. The results suggest the PMPU-Q-R factor structure can be updated to include smartphone dependence, dangerous driving, and antisocial smartphone use factors. Theories of problematic mobile phone use require consideration of the ubiquity and indispensability of smartphones in the present day and age, particularly regarding use whilst driving and in social interactions.

Contemporary technological advances have led to a significant increase in using mobile technologies. Recent research has pointed to potential problems as a consequence of mobile overuse, including addiction, financial problems, dangerous use (i.e. whilst driving) and prohibited use (i.e. use in forbidden areas). The aim of this study is to extend previous findings regarding the predictive power of psychopathological symptoms (depression, anxiety and stress), mobile phone use (i.e. calls, SMS, time spent on the phone, as well as the engagement in specific smartphone activities) across Generations X and Y on problematic mobile phone use in a sample of 273 adults. Findings revealed prohibited use and dependence were predicted by calls/day, time on the phone and using social media. Only for dependent mobile phone use (rather than prohibited), stress appeared as significant. Using social media and anxiety significantly predicted belonging to Generation Y, with calls per day predicted belonging to Generation X. This finding suggests Generation Y are more likely to use asynchronous social media-based communication, whereas Generation X engage more in synchronous communication. The findings have implications for prevention and awareness-raising efforts of possibly problematic mobile phone use for educators, parents and individuals, particularly including dependence and prohibited use.

International Journal of Communication, 2017

The use of cell phones is nowadays a necessity for many individuals, and this technology has a privileged position not only in the communication field, but, due to various applications, in the economic, educational and cultural life. However, addiction as a “dark side” of this technology use has been described, and multiple psychological scales for the determination of this addiction’s severity have been created. Smartphone addiction is not specific to a certain cultural, social, economic or educational background. Risk factors for smart phones addiction development have been detected in epidemiological trials: female gender, high anxiety level, insomnia, Internet use, alcohol use, low self-esteem, low self-control, and sensation-seeking. Depression has been associated with both high risk for developing cell phone addiction, and with protective value for this pathology. Applications for monitorisation of the smartphone use have been created, in order to help a clinician to verify th...

Computers in Human Behavior, 2019

Given the prominent role that smartphones have in everyday life, research in the field has proliferated. From a theoretical perspective, problematic smartphone use (PSPU) is described as a multi-faceted phenomenon entailing a variety of dysfunctional manifestations (e.g., addictive, antisocial and dangerous use). To date, however, there is still a lack of empirical evidence supporting the identification of PSPU as a potential behavioural addiction. Driven by theory, the aim of the present study was to provide an empirically validated model by testing the contribution of specific factors leading to PSPU. Relationships among individual characteristics (internalised psychopathology, impulsivity and personality traits) and PSPU uses (addictive, antisocial and dangerous) were investigated according to the updated version of the theoretical framework provided by the Pathway Model of problematic smartphone use (Billieux et al., 2015). An online survey was administered to a convenience sample (N = 511) of smartphone users in order to examine their daily engagement, problematic usage patterns and related psychological correlates. Path analysis revealed important information about different PSPU components and results are discussed in light of the available literature. Recommendations for future research are proposed to further investigate the problematic behaviour, including the study of additional variables, such as the fear of missing out (FoMO), nomophobia and excessive social media use.

Journal of technology in behavioral science, 2018

Contemporary technological advances have led to a significant increase in using mobile technologies. Recent research has pointed to potential problems as a consequence of mobile overuse, including addiction, financial problems, dangerous use (i.e. whilst driving) and prohibited use (i.e. use in forbidden areas). The aim of this study is to extend previous findings regarding the predictive power of psychopathological symptoms (depression, anxiety and stress), mobile phone use (i.e. calls, SMS, time spent on the phone, as well as the engagement in specific smartphone activities) across Generations X and Y on problematic mobile phone use in a sample of 273 adults. Findings revealed prohibited use and dependence were predicted by calls/day, time on the phone and using social media. Only for dependent mobile phone use (rather than prohibited), stress appeared as significant. Using social media and anxiety significantly predicted belonging to Generation Y, with calls per day predicted bel...

This study aimed to develop and assess the psychometric properties of an English language measure of problematic mobile phone use. Participants were recruited from a university campus, health science center, and other public locations. The sample included 244 individuals (68.4% female) aged 18–75. Results supported a unidimensional factor structure for the 20-item self-report Problematic Use of Mobile Phones (PUMP) Scale. Internal consistency was excellent (í µí»¼ = 0.94). Strong correlations (í µí±Ÿ = .76, í µí±ƒ < .001) were found between the PUMP Scale and an existing scale of cellular phone dependency that was validated in Asia, as well as items assessing frequency and intensity of mobile phone use. Results provide preliminary support for the use of the PUMP Scale to measure problematic use of mobile phones.