Metacognitions about problematic Smartphone use: Development of a self-report measure

Reliance on self-report to measure problematic smartphone use is a limitation of the extant literature. It is unclear whether self- and other-ratings of problematic smartphone use converge and whether correlations between personality and self-reported problematic smartphone use are distorted by common method bias. The current study provides the first comprehensive assessment of self-other agreement of problematic smartphone use and the relationship between personality and other-rated problematic smartphone use in a large sample of young adults. Focal participants (n = 1073) were Australian university students who completed measures of Big Five (IPIP) and HEXACO (HEXACO PI-R) personality, and problematic smartphone use. One or more people who knew the focal participant well (n = 2445) rated the focal participant's problematic smartphone use. People rated their own smartphone use as more problematic than did others. Self- and other-ratings of problematic smartphone use correlated 0.38. The pattern of self-other and other-other correlations indicated that self-ratings were more accurate than other-ratings. The pattern of high neuroticism and low conscientiousness predicting greater problematic smartphone use was observed for both self- and other-ratings. Findings suggest that self-report measures are reasonably valid, problematic smartphone usage is observable, and the relationship between personality and problematic smartphone use is robust.

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Objective Recordings of Instant Messaging and Social Network App Usage are associated with Self-reported Tendencies towards Smartphone Use Disorder: The distinctive Role of Image-Based Apps (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.27093 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Davide Marengo ◽

Rayna Saryska ◽

Helena Sophia Schmitt ◽

Eva-Maria Messner ◽

Harald Baumeister ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Communication ◽

Instant Messaging ◽

Self Report ◽

Addictive Behaviors ◽

Multiple Components ◽

Frequency Of Use ◽

Smartphone Use ◽

Distinctive Role ◽

Report Measure

BACKGROUND Online social communication via instant messaging (IM) and social networking (SN) applications make up for a large part of the time smartphone users spend on their devices. Previous research indicates that the excessive use of these applications positively associates with smartphone-related addictive behaviors. In particular, image-based SN apps, such as Instagram and Snapchat, have been shown to exert stronger detrimental effects than traditional apps, such as Facebook and Twitter. OBJECTIVE We investigate the correlation between individual tendency towards smartphone use disorder (SmUD) and objective measures of frequency of smartphone usage. Additionally, we explore a mediation pathway linking frequency of actual smartphone usage and self-reported tendencies towards SmUD by route of increased frequency of usage of IM and SN apps. METHODS We recruited a sample of N = 124 adult smartphone users (62.9% females; mean age of M=23.84 (SD = 8.29) years) and collected objective information about the frequency of smartphone and SN app usage over one week. Participants also filled in a self-report measure assessing multiple components of tendencies toward smartphone use disorder. Bivariate associations were investigated using Spearman correlations. A parallel mediation analysis was implemented via multiple regression analysis. RESULTS The frequency of smartphone usage, as well as the use of IM apps (Messenger, Telegram, WhatsApp), Facebook, and image-based apps (Instagram, Snapchat), had significant positive associations with at least one component of a smartphone use disorder, with the facet cyberspace-oriented relationships exhibiting the strongest associations. We find support for an indirect effect linking actual smartphone usage and smartphone use disorder tendencies via frequency of use of image-based SN apps. CONCLUSIONS This novel result sheds light on the factors promoting smartphone use disorder and essentially indicates the features implemented in the considered image-based SN apps as being potentially more “addictive” than those available in IM apps and traditional SN apps, such as Facebook.

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The Psychology of Smartphone: The Development of the Smartphone Impact Scale (SIS)

Assessment ◽

10.1177/1073191119831788 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 1176-1197 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Luca Pancani ◽

Emanuele Preti ◽

Paolo Riva

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Everyday Life ◽

Self Report ◽

Problematic Smartphone Use ◽

Psychological Literature ◽

Problematic Use ◽

Impact Scale ◽

Preliminary Version ◽

Smartphone Use ◽

Item Scale

Smartphones are changing lives in a number of ways. However, the psychological literature has primarily focused on smartphone overuse, neglecting the impacts that are not strictly related to problematic use. The present research was aimed to develop a comprehensive self-report scale that accounts for the cognitive, affective, social, and behavioral impacts of smartphones in everyday life—the Smartphone Impact Scale (SIS). Study 1 ( N = 407) yielded a preliminary version of the scale, which was refined in Study 2 ( N = 601). The SIS is a 26-item scale that measures seven dimensions of smartphone impact. Results revealed meaningful associations between its subscales, psychosocial constructs, and daily usage of smartphones and apps. The SIS broadens the view of human–smartphone interaction by extending the concept of problematic smartphone use to further dimensions (e.g., emotion regulation) and introducing a proper measurement of underinvestigated smartphone impacts (e.g., tasks support). The implications of each SIS subscale are discussed.

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Adolescents Suspended in the Space-Time: Problematic Use of Smartphone between Dissociative Symptoms and Flow Experiences

10.5772/intechopen.101632 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Massimo Ingrassia ◽

Gioele Cedro ◽

Sharon Puccio ◽

Loredana Benedetto

Keyword(s):

High School Students ◽

Community Sample ◽

Self Report ◽

Digital Culture ◽

School Students ◽

Problematic Smartphone Use ◽

Sensory Experiences ◽

Dissociative Symptoms ◽

Smartphone Use ◽

Flow Experiences

Based on current digital culture, this chapter aims to provide an updated view of dissociative experiences as no-psychopathological symptoms of flow experiences. It has been hypothesized that prolonged exposures to smartphone screens could be a predictor of altered states of consciousness (flow) and that sometimes these prolonged exposures could degenerate into dissociative phenomena. Participants were 643 high school students aged between 13 and 23 years (M = 16.08; SD = 1.79). They were asked to answer four self-report questionnaires about the habits of smartphone usage, the perception of problematic smartphone use, and the assessment of dissociative symptoms and experiences (e.g., bizarre sensory experiences, absorption and imaginative involvement [AII], depersonalization and derealization). Gender differences emerged both in smartphone usage habits and some dissociative scales. Two gender-specific stepwise linear regressions showed that problematic smartphone use is one of the stronger predictors of dissociative symptoms. Results support the idea that in an adolescents’ community sample prolonged exposition to smartphone screens plays a role in the manifestation of dissociative symptoms. This is closely connected with experiences of AII, which could reinforce the use of devices contributing significantly to establishing a causal circularity between smartphone prolonged usage and AII phenomena.

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A test of the pathway model of problematic smartphone use

Journal of Behavioral Addictions ◽

10.1556/2006.2020.00103 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Natale Canale ◽

Tania Moretta ◽

Luca Pancani ◽

Giulia Buodo ◽

Alessio Vieno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Undergraduate Students ◽

Sensation Seeking ◽

Self Report ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Behavioural Inhibition ◽

Pathway Model ◽

Problematic Smartphone Use ◽

Usage Patterns ◽

Comprehensive Test ◽

Smartphone Use

AbstractBackground and aimsProblematic smartphone use (PSU) has been described as a growing public health issue. In the current study, we aimed to provide a unique and comprehensive test of the pathway model of PSU. This model posits three distinct developmental pathways leading to PSU: (1) the excessive reassurance pathway, (2) the impulsive pathway and (3) the extraversion pathway.MethodsUndergraduate students (n = 795, 69.8% female, mean age = 23.80 years, sd = 3.02) completed online self-report measures of PSU (addictive use, antisocial use and dangerous use) and the psychological features (personality traits and psychopathological symptoms) underlying the three pathways.ResultsBayesian analyses revealed that addictive use is mainly driven by the excessive reassurance pathway and the impulsive pathway, for which candidate etiopathological factors include heightened negative urgency, a hyperactive behavioural inhibition system and symptoms of social anxiety. Dangerous and antisocial use are mainly driven by the impulsive pathway and the extraversion pathway, for which candidate etiopathological factors include specific impulsivity components (lack of premeditation and sensation seeking) and primary psychopathy (inclination to lie, lack of remorse, callousness and manipulativeness).Discussion and conclusionsThe present study constitutes the first comprehensive test of the pathway model of PSU. We provide robust and original results regarding the psychological dimensions associated with each of the postulated pathways of PSU, which should be taken into account when considering regulation of smartphone use or tailoring prevention protocols to reduce problematic usage patterns.

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Substance Use Disorder Status Moderates the Association between Personality Traits and Problematic Mobile Phone/Internet Use

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10050919 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 919

Author(s):

Marta Demkow-Jania ◽

Maciej Kopera ◽

Elisa M. Trucco ◽

Paweł Kobyliński ◽

Anna Klimkiewicz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Mobile Phone ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Substance Use Disorder ◽

Internet Use ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Self Report ◽

Problematic Smartphone Use ◽

Smartphone Use ◽

Neo Five Factor Inventory

Background: Associations between personality traits and problematic smartphone use (PSU) among individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) have not been widely investigated. The current study aims to assess whether SUD status moderates the association between personality traits and PSU. Methods: The study group included 151 individuals with SUD and a normative sample (NS) comprised of 554 non-SUD students. The following self-report questionnaires were used: the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale (MPPUS-10) to assess problematic smartphone use (PSU), the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) to assess intensity of internet use, and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) to assess Personality traits. Results: SUD status moderated the association between neuroticism and openness to new experiences on PSU. That is, greater neuroticism and openness were significantly associated with more excessive PSU among the NS. In the SUD group, greater openness was a significant protective factor against PSU. Moderation results were similar when using the IAT (which was significantly correlated with MPPUS) as an outcome. Conclusions: The presence of SUD may influence how personality traits are associated with problematic mobile phone/internet use. Given that this is among one of the first studies examining this topic, findings should be replicated with additional studies.

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Insecure Attachment Styles and Unbalanced Family Functioning as Risk Factors of Problematic Smartphone Use in Spanish Young Adults: A Relative Weight Analysis

European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education ◽

10.3390/ejihpe11030075 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 1011-1021

Author(s):

Sonia Mangialavori ◽

Claudia Russo ◽

Maria Veronica Jimeno ◽

Jorge Javier Ricarte ◽

Giulio D’Urso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Family Functioning ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Relative Weight ◽

Insecure Attachment ◽

Self Report ◽

Smartphone Addiction ◽

Problematic Smartphone Use ◽

Smartphone Use ◽

The Relationship

Young adulthood is the life stage during which people are more prone to develop problematic smartphone use (PSU). Only one study investigated the relationship among attachment styles, family functioning, and PSU, but thus far, no research has shown the relative importance that such dimensions may have on PSU. The main aim of this study was to analyze to what extent insecure attachment styles and unbalanced family functioning are related to PSU, investigating the specific weight of each dimension in a sample of young adults (N = 301; 82.7% females; Mage = 22.89; SD = 3.02). Participants completed a self-report questionnaire, including the Relationship Questionnaire, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale IV, and the Smartphone Addiction Scale. The regression and relative weight analyses results showed that preoccupied attachment style and disengaged, chaotic, and enmeshed family functioning were positively related to PSU. Implications for future research and interventions were discussed.

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Digital Intervention for Problematic Smartphone Use

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182413165 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (24) ◽

pp. 13165

Author(s):

Sarah Kent ◽

Ciara Masterson ◽

Raian Ali ◽

Christine E. Parsons ◽

Bridgette M. Bewick

Keyword(s):

Technology Use ◽

Case Series ◽

Smartphone Application ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Positive Influence ◽

Self Report ◽

Problematic Smartphone Use ◽

Digital Intervention ◽

Smartphone Use ◽

Personalised Feedback

Smartphones have become the primary devices for accessing the online world. The potential for smartphone use to become problematic has come into increasing focus. Students and young adults have been shown to use their smartphones at high rates and may be at risk for problematic use. There is limited research evaluating interventions for problematic smartphone use. The present research aimed to develop and evaluate a digital intervention for problematic smartphone use in a student population. A mixed-method case series design was used. The participants were 10 students with mild–moderate dependency on the online world (measured via a self-report questionnaire). An intervention comprising goal setting, personalised feedback, mindfulness, and behavioural suggestions was delivered via a smartphone application. Time spent on smartphones was measured objectively through the same application. Changes in problematic technology use, wellbeing, mindfulness, and sleep were also evaluated. The findings indicate that the intervention resulted in a reduction in self-reported problematic smartphone use, but not screen time. The findings also indicate that over the course of participation, there was a positive influence on wellbeing, online dependency, mindfulness, and sleep. However, the mechanisms of change could not be determined. The study provides preliminary evidence that a light-touch, smartphone-delivered package is an acceptable and effective intervention for students wishing to better manage their problematic smartphone use.

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Dimensionality and Reliability Assessment of the Pain Patient Profile Questionnaire

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759.24.1.22 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 22-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brian E. McGuire ◽

Michael J. Hogan ◽

Todd G. Morrison

Keyword(s):

Self Report ◽

Pain Patient ◽

Fit Indices ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Oblique Rotation ◽

Pain Experience ◽

Patient Profile ◽

Adequate Representation ◽

Pain Patients ◽

Report Measure

Abstract. Objective: To factor analyze the Pain Patient Profile questionnaire (P3; Tollison & Langley, 1995 ), a self-report measure of emotional distress in respondents with chronic pain. Method: An unweighted least squares factor analysis with oblique rotation was conducted on the P3 scores of 160 pain patients to look for evidence of three distinct factors (i.e., Depression, Anxiety, and Somatization). Results: Fit indices suggested that three distinct factors, accounting for 32.1%, 7.0%, and 5.5% of the shared variance, provided an adequate representation of the data. However, inspection of item groupings revealed that this structure did not map onto the Depression, Anxiety, and Somatization division purportedly represented by the P3. Further, when the analysis was re-run, eliminating items that failed to meet salience criteria, a two-factor solution emerged, with Factor 1 representing a mixture of Depression and Anxiety items and Factor 2 denoting Somatization. Each of these factors correlated significantly with a subsample's assessment of pain intensity. Conclusion: Results were not congruent with the P3's suggested tripartite model of pain experience and indicate that modifications to the scale may be required.

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Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory – Child Version (OCI-CV) in General Population

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000276 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 97-103 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Tíscar Rodríguez-Jiménez ◽

Antonio Godoy ◽

José A. Piqueras ◽

Aurora Gavino ◽

Agustín E. Martínez-González ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Self Report ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Good Consistency ◽

Order Factor ◽

General Populations ◽

Report Measure

Abstract. Evidence-based assessment is necessary as a first step for developing psychopathological studies and assessing the effectiveness of empirically validated treatments. There are several measures of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or symptomatology in children and adolescents, but all of them present some limitations. The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) by Foa and her colleagues has showed to be a good self-report measure to capture the dimensionality of OCD in adults and adolescents. The child version of the OCI (OCI-CV) was validated for clinical children and adolescents in 2010, showing excellent psychometric properties. The objective of this study was to examine the factor structure and invariance of the OCI-CV in the general population. Results showed a six-factor structure with one second-order factor, good consistency values, and invariance across region, age, and sex. The OCI-CV is an excellent inventory for assessing the dimensions of OCD symptomatology in general populations of children and adolescents. The invariance across sex and age warrants its utilization for research purposes.

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