Examining the Interplay of Smartphone Use Disorder, Mental Health, and Physical Symptoms
The current study examined antecedents and possible consequences of smartphone use disorder (SmUD). In particular, we aimed to increase the understanding of the interplay of SmUD, mental health, and physical symptoms. Studies found that SmUD is associated with diverse psychological and physical heal...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.834835/full |
| _version_ | 1818275297855799296 |
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| author | Felix Reer Lars-Ole Wehden Robin Janzik Thorsten Quandt |
| author_facet | Felix Reer Lars-Ole Wehden Robin Janzik Thorsten Quandt |
| author_sort | Felix Reer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The current study examined antecedents and possible consequences of smartphone use disorder (SmUD). In particular, we aimed to increase the understanding of the interplay of SmUD, mental health, and physical symptoms. Studies found that SmUD is associated with diverse psychological and physical health impairments, ranging from depression and anxiety to headaches and sleep disturbances. Based on existing works, we assumed that mental problems mediate the relationship between SmUD and bodily problems. We conducted a cross-sectional random-quota online survey among 938 German smartphone owners aged 14 to 64 years. An instrument based on the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was used to measure SmUD severity. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling. We identified a rate of 4.0% potentially disordered users. Males and younger participants showed more signs of SmUD. As expected, SmUD severity was found to be associated with physical (more frequent headaches, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems) as well as psychological (higher levels of loneliness, stress, depression/anxiety) health impairments. Investigating the interplay of these variables showed that depression and anxiety, and stress partially mediated the relationship between SmUD severity and physical symptoms. Taken together, our results confirm that increased SmUD severity is associated with mental problems as well as with somatic symptoms. We assume complex (and presumably circular) relationships, which future studies should examine in more detail. SmUD prevention and intervention programs should follow a broad approach that considers decreases in physical and mental health, possibly causing or resulting from SmUD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:27:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-513375c40e8d43b69baa2e8f14f21187 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:27:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-513375c40e8d43b69baa2e8f14f211872022-12-22T00:09:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652022-04-011010.3389/fpubh.2022.834835834835Examining the Interplay of Smartphone Use Disorder, Mental Health, and Physical SymptomsFelix ReerLars-Ole WehdenRobin JanzikThorsten QuandtThe current study examined antecedents and possible consequences of smartphone use disorder (SmUD). In particular, we aimed to increase the understanding of the interplay of SmUD, mental health, and physical symptoms. Studies found that SmUD is associated with diverse psychological and physical health impairments, ranging from depression and anxiety to headaches and sleep disturbances. Based on existing works, we assumed that mental problems mediate the relationship between SmUD and bodily problems. We conducted a cross-sectional random-quota online survey among 938 German smartphone owners aged 14 to 64 years. An instrument based on the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was used to measure SmUD severity. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling. We identified a rate of 4.0% potentially disordered users. Males and younger participants showed more signs of SmUD. As expected, SmUD severity was found to be associated with physical (more frequent headaches, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems) as well as psychological (higher levels of loneliness, stress, depression/anxiety) health impairments. Investigating the interplay of these variables showed that depression and anxiety, and stress partially mediated the relationship between SmUD severity and physical symptoms. Taken together, our results confirm that increased SmUD severity is associated with mental problems as well as with somatic symptoms. We assume complex (and presumably circular) relationships, which future studies should examine in more detail. SmUD prevention and intervention programs should follow a broad approach that considers decreases in physical and mental health, possibly causing or resulting from SmUD.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.834835/fullsmartphone usedisorderaddictionphysical symptomsdepressionsleep disturbances |
| spellingShingle | Felix Reer Lars-Ole Wehden Robin Janzik Thorsten Quandt Examining the Interplay of Smartphone Use Disorder, Mental Health, and Physical Symptoms Frontiers in Public Health smartphone use disorder addiction physical symptoms depression sleep disturbances |
| title | Examining the Interplay of Smartphone Use Disorder, Mental Health, and Physical Symptoms |
| title_full | Examining the Interplay of Smartphone Use Disorder, Mental Health, and Physical Symptoms |
| title_fullStr | Examining the Interplay of Smartphone Use Disorder, Mental Health, and Physical Symptoms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining the Interplay of Smartphone Use Disorder, Mental Health, and Physical Symptoms |
| title_short | Examining the Interplay of Smartphone Use Disorder, Mental Health, and Physical Symptoms |
| title_sort | examining the interplay of smartphone use disorder mental health and physical symptoms |
| topic | smartphone use disorder addiction physical symptoms depression sleep disturbances |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.834835/full |
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