The mediating effect of attentional impulsivity between mindfulness and problematic smartphone use
Abstract Objective Problematic smartphone use has been linked to lower levels of mindfulness, impaired attentional function, and higher impulsivity. This study aimed to identify the psychological mechanisms of problematic smartphone use by exploring the relationship between addictive smartphone use,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05708-0 |
| _version_ | 1797199293546758144 |
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| author | Minjung Kim Goeun Seong Min-Jeong Jeon Young-Chul Jung Deokjong Lee |
| author_facet | Minjung Kim Goeun Seong Min-Jeong Jeon Young-Chul Jung Deokjong Lee |
| author_sort | Minjung Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective Problematic smartphone use has been linked to lower levels of mindfulness, impaired attentional function, and higher impulsivity. This study aimed to identify the psychological mechanisms of problematic smartphone use by exploring the relationship between addictive smartphone use, mindfulness, attentional function and impulsivity. Methods Ninety participants were evaluated with the smartphone addiction proneness scale and classified into the problematic smartphone use group (n = 42; 24 women; mean age: 27.6 ± 7.2 years) or normal use group (n = 48; 22 women; mean age: 30.1 ± 5.7 years). All participants completed self-report questionnaires evaluating their trait impulsivity and mindfulness and attention tests that assessed selective, sustained and divided attention. We compared the variables between the groups and explored the relationship between mindfulness, attentional function, impulsivity and addictive smartphone use through mediation analysis. Results The problematic smartphone use group showed higher trait impulsivity and lower mindfulness than the normal use group. There were no significant group differences in performance on attention tests. Levels of addictive smartphone use were significantly correlated with higher levels of trait impulsivity and lower levels of mindfulness, but not with performance on attention tests. Mediation analysis showed that acting with awareness, an aspect of mindfulness, reduces the degree of addictive smartphone use through attentional impulsivity, one of the trait impulsivity. Conclusion Acting without sufficient awareness could influence addictive smartphone use by mediating attentional impulsivity. This supports that executive control deficits, reflected in high attentional impulsivity, contribute to problematic smartphone use. Our findings imply that mindfulness-based interventions can enhance executive control over smartphone use by promoting awareness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:13:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d7ad3601360d45ec9bb6fc9d1fcb8135 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:13:27Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-d7ad3601360d45ec9bb6fc9d1fcb81352024-04-21T11:26:28ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2024-04-0124111210.1186/s12888-024-05708-0The mediating effect of attentional impulsivity between mindfulness and problematic smartphone useMinjung Kim0Goeun Seong1Min-Jeong Jeon2Young-Chul Jung3Deokjong Lee4Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineInstitute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of MedicineInstitute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineInstitute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of MedicineAbstract Objective Problematic smartphone use has been linked to lower levels of mindfulness, impaired attentional function, and higher impulsivity. This study aimed to identify the psychological mechanisms of problematic smartphone use by exploring the relationship between addictive smartphone use, mindfulness, attentional function and impulsivity. Methods Ninety participants were evaluated with the smartphone addiction proneness scale and classified into the problematic smartphone use group (n = 42; 24 women; mean age: 27.6 ± 7.2 years) or normal use group (n = 48; 22 women; mean age: 30.1 ± 5.7 years). All participants completed self-report questionnaires evaluating their trait impulsivity and mindfulness and attention tests that assessed selective, sustained and divided attention. We compared the variables between the groups and explored the relationship between mindfulness, attentional function, impulsivity and addictive smartphone use through mediation analysis. Results The problematic smartphone use group showed higher trait impulsivity and lower mindfulness than the normal use group. There were no significant group differences in performance on attention tests. Levels of addictive smartphone use were significantly correlated with higher levels of trait impulsivity and lower levels of mindfulness, but not with performance on attention tests. Mediation analysis showed that acting with awareness, an aspect of mindfulness, reduces the degree of addictive smartphone use through attentional impulsivity, one of the trait impulsivity. Conclusion Acting without sufficient awareness could influence addictive smartphone use by mediating attentional impulsivity. This supports that executive control deficits, reflected in high attentional impulsivity, contribute to problematic smartphone use. Our findings imply that mindfulness-based interventions can enhance executive control over smartphone use by promoting awareness.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05708-0AttentionAwarenessProblematic smartphone useMindfulnessImpulsivity |
| spellingShingle | Minjung Kim Goeun Seong Min-Jeong Jeon Young-Chul Jung Deokjong Lee The mediating effect of attentional impulsivity between mindfulness and problematic smartphone use BMC Psychiatry Attention Awareness Problematic smartphone use Mindfulness Impulsivity |
| title | The mediating effect of attentional impulsivity between mindfulness and problematic smartphone use |
| title_full | The mediating effect of attentional impulsivity between mindfulness and problematic smartphone use |
| title_fullStr | The mediating effect of attentional impulsivity between mindfulness and problematic smartphone use |
| title_full_unstemmed | The mediating effect of attentional impulsivity between mindfulness and problematic smartphone use |
| title_short | The mediating effect of attentional impulsivity between mindfulness and problematic smartphone use |
| title_sort | mediating effect of attentional impulsivity between mindfulness and problematic smartphone use |
| topic | Attention Awareness Problematic smartphone use Mindfulness Impulsivity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05708-0 |
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