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How do Interpersonal Relationships Relieve Adolescents’ Problematic Mobile Phone Use? The Roles of Loneliness and Motivation to Use Mobile Phones

Author

Listed:
  • Rui Zhen

    (Institute of Psychological Sciences, College of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, No. 2318 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 311121, China)

  • Ru-De Liu

    (Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Wei Hong

    (Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Xiao Zhou

    (Department of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, No.148 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou 310028, China)

Abstract

The current study aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms of how interpersonal relationships relieve adolescents’ problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) and to examine the potential mediating roles of loneliness and motivation to use mobile phones. Four thousand five hundred and nine middle school students from four provinces in China were recruited to participate in the investigation. The results showed that the parent–child relationship but not the teacher–student relationship, had a direct and negative effect on PMPU. The parent–child relationship had indirect effects on PMPU through the mediators of loneliness, escape motivation and relationship motivation; the teacher–student relationship had indirect effects on PMPU only through the mediating factors of loneliness and escape motivation. Both parent–child and teacher–student relationships indirectly affected PMPU through a two-step path from loneliness to escape motivation. These findings highlight the more salient role of the parent–child relationship than that of the teacher–student relationship in directly alleviating PMPU and indicate that satisfying interpersonal relationships can buffer adolescents’ PMPU by lowering their loneliness and motivation to use mobile phones.

Suggested Citation

  • Rui Zhen & Ru-De Liu & Wei Hong & Xiao Zhou, 2019. "How do Interpersonal Relationships Relieve Adolescents’ Problematic Mobile Phone Use? The Roles of Loneliness and Motivation to Use Mobile Phones," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-12, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:13:p:2286-:d:243670
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daria J. Kuss & Lydia Harkin & Eiman Kanjo & Joel Billieux, 2018. "Problematic Smartphone Use: Investigating Contemporary Experiences Using a Convergent Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Shuman Tao & Xiaoyan Wu & Yukun Zhang & Shichen Zhang & Shilu Tong & Fangbiao Tao, 2017. "Effects of Sleep Quality on the Association between Problematic Mobile Phone Use and Mental Health Symptoms in Chinese College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-10, February.
    3. Milena Foerster & Katharina Roser & Anna Schoeni & Martin Röösli, 2015. "Problematic mobile phone use in adolescents: derivation of a short scale MPPUS-10," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 60(2), pages 277-286, February.
    4. Katharina Roser & Anna Schoeni & Milena Foerster & Martin Röösli, 2016. "Problematic mobile phone use of Swiss adolescents: is it linked with mental health or behaviour?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(3), pages 307-315, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Muhammad Daniyal & Syed Fahad Javaid & Ali Hassan & Moien A. B. Khan, 2022. "The Relationship between Cellphone Usage on the Physical and Mental Wellbeing of University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Shunsen Huang & Xiaoxiong Lai & Xinmei Zhao & Xinran Dai & Yuanwei Yao & Cai Zhang & Yun Wang, 2022. "Beyond Screen Time: Exploring the Associations between Types of Smartphone Use Content and Adolescents’ Social Relationships," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.

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