IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i15p5472-d391673.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mobile Phone Addiction and Risk-Taking Behavior among Chinese Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model

Author

Listed:
  • Kai Dou

    (Department of Psychology and Research Center of Adolescent Psychology and Behavior, School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Lin-Xin Wang

    (Department of Psychology and Research Center of Adolescent Psychology and Behavior, School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Jian-Bin Li

    (Department of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Guo-Dong Wang

    (Department of Psychology and Research Center of Adolescent Psychology and Behavior, School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Yan-Yu Li

    (Department of Psychology and Research Center of Adolescent Psychology and Behavior, School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Yi-Ting Huang

    (Department of Psychology and Research Center of Adolescent Psychology and Behavior, School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

Abstract

Objectives : The mobile phone (MP) is an indispensable digital device in adolescents’ daily lives in the contemporary era, but being addicted to MP can lead to more risk-taking behavior. However, little is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relation. To address the gaps in the literature, the present study examined the idea that MP addiction is associated with reduced self-control, which further associates with increased risk-taking behavior. In addition, this study also investigated the moderation effect of adolescent sex in the association between MP addiction and self-control. Methods : A three-wave longitudinal study, each wave spanning six months apart, was conducted in a sample of Chinese adolescents (final N = 333, 57.4% girls). Results : Results of the moderated mediation model suggest that after controlling for demographic variables and baseline levels of self-control and risk-taking behavior, MP addiction at T1 positively predicted increased risk-taking behavior at T3 through reduced self-control at T2 for girls but not for boys. Conclusions : Theoretically, these findings contribute to the understanding about the working processes in the association between MP addiction and risk-taking behavior in adolescents. Practically, the results implied that boosting self-control appeared as a promising way to reduce girls’ risk-taking behavior, particularly for those who are addicted to MPs.

Suggested Citation

  • Kai Dou & Lin-Xin Wang & Jian-Bin Li & Guo-Dong Wang & Yan-Yu Li & Yi-Ting Huang, 2020. "Mobile Phone Addiction and Risk-Taking Behavior among Chinese Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5472-:d:391673
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/15/5472/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/15/5472/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vazsonyi, Alexander T. & Mikuška, Jakub & Kelley, Erin L., 2017. "It's time: A meta-analysis on the self-control-deviance link," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 48-63.
    2. Friehe, Tim & Schildberg-Hörisch, Hannah, 2017. "Self-control and crime revisited: Disentangling the effect of self-control on risk taking and antisocial behavior," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 23-32.
    3. Flexon, Jamie L. & Meldrum, Ryan C. & Young, Jacob T.N. & Lehmann, Peter S., 2016. "Low self-control and the Dark Triad: Disentangling the predictive power of personality traits on young adult substance use, offending and victimization," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 159-169.
    4. Tyler, Kimberly A. & Schmitz, Rachel M., 2017. "Using cell phones for data collection: Benefits, outcomes, and intervention possibilities with homeless youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 59-64.
    5. Liu, Qing-Qi & Yang, Xiu-Juan & Hu, Yu-Ting & Zhang, Chen-Yan & Nie, Yan-Gang, 2020. "How and when is family dysfunction associated with adolescent mobile phone addiction? Testing a moderated mediation model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    6. Jo, Youngoh & Bouffard, Leana, 2014. "Stability of self-control and gender," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 356-365.
    7. Sonia Livingstone & Peter K. Smith, 2014. "Annual research review: harms experienced by child users of online and mobile technologies: the nature, prevalence and management of sexual and aggressive risks in the digital age," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 55691, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yan-Yu Li & Yi-Ting Huang & Kai Dou, 2021. "Validation and Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Fear of Missing Out Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-10, September.
    2. Jian-Bin Li & Ying-Shuang Wang & Kai Dou & Ya-Fei Shang, 2022. "On the Development of Meaning in Life Among College Freshmen: Social Relationship Antecedents and Adjustment Consequences," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1709-1735, April.
    3. Zi-Qin Liang & Kai Dou & Jian-Bin Li & Yu-Jie Wang & Yan-Gang Nie, 2022. "Linking Self-Control to Negative Risk-Taking Behavior among Chinese Late Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-14, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Connolly, Eric J. & Cooke, Eric M. & Beaver, Kevin M. & Brown, Wyatt, 2020. "Do developmental changes in impulsivity and sensation seeking uniquely predict violent victimization? A test of the dual systems model," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    2. Vazsonyi, Alexander T. & Ksinan Jiskrova, Gabriela, 2018. "On the development of self-control and deviance from preschool to middle adolescence," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 60-69.
    3. Chapple, Constance L. & Pierce, Hayley & Jones, Melissa S., 2021. "Gender, adverse childhood experiences, and the development of self-control," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    4. Audrone Dumciene & Saule Sipaviciene, 2021. "The Role of Gender in Association between Emotional Intelligence and Self-Control among University Student-Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-12, November.
    5. Ethel Quayle, 2016. "Researching online child sexual exploitation and abuse: are there links between online and offline vulnerabilities?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 71260, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Jose M. Martín-Criado & Jose A. Casas & Rosario Ortega-Ruiz, 2021. "Parental Supervision: Predictive Variables of Positive Involvement in Cyberbullying Prevention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    7. Berenike Waubert de Puiseau & Andreas Glöckner & Emanuel V. Towfigh, 2019. "Integrating theories of law obedience: How utility-theoretic factors, legitimacy, and lack of self-control influence decisions to commit low-level crimes," Judgment and Decision Making, Society for Judgment and Decision Making, vol. 14(3), pages 318-334, May.
    8. Martin G Kocher & Konstantin E Lucks & David Schindler, 2019. "Unleashing Animal Spirits: Self-Control and Overpricing in Experimental Asset Markets," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 32(6), pages 2149-2178.
    9. Boisvert, Danielle & Wells, Jessica & Armstrong, Todd A. & Lewis, Richard H., 2018. "Serotonin and self-control: A genetically moderated stress sensitization effect," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 98-106.
    10. Teo Keipi & Atte Oksanen & James Hawdon & Matti Näsi & Pekka Räsänen, 2017. "Harm-advocating online content and subjective well-being: a cross-national study of new risks faced by youth," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(5), pages 634-649, May.
    11. Gerhardt, Holger & Schildberg-Hörisch, Hannah & Willrodt, Jana, 2017. "Does self-control depletion affect risk attitudes?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 463-487.
    12. Michelle F. Wright & Ikuko Aoyama & Shanmukh V. Kamble & Zheng Li & Shruti Soudi & Li Lei & Chang Shu, 2015. "Peer Attachment and Cyber Aggression Involvement among Chinese, Indian, and Japanese Adolescents," Societies, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-15, April.
    13. Diamond, Brie & Jennings, Wesley G. & Piquero, Alex R., 2018. "Scaling-up self-control: A macro-level investigation of self-control at the county level," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 81-85.
    14. Yayouk E. Willems & Jian-Bin Li & Anne M. Hendriks & Meike Bartels & Catrin Finkenauer, 2018. "The Relationship between Family Violence and Self-Control in Adolescence: A Multi-Level Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-19, November.
    15. Sonnabend, Hendrik & Stadtmann, Georg, 2018. "Good intentions and unintended evil? Adverse effects of criminalizing clients in paid sex markets with voluntary and involuntary prostitution," Discussion Papers 400, European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Department of Business Administration and Economics.
    16. Hanna Fromell & Daniele Nosenzo & Trudy Owens, 2020. "Altruism, fast and slow? Evidence from a meta-analysis and a new experiment," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 23(4), pages 979-1001, December.
    17. Seigfried-Spellar, Kathryn C. & Villacís-Vukadinović, Nicolás & Lynam, Donald R., 2017. "Computer criminal behavior is related to psychopathy and other antisocial behavior," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 67-73.
    18. Garofalo, Carlo & Velotti, Patrizia, 2017. "Negative emotionality and aggression in violent offenders: The moderating role of emotion dysregulation," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 9-16.
    19. Vazsonyi, Alexander T. & Javakhishvili, Magda & Ksinan, Albert J., 2018. "Routine activities and adolescent deviance across 28 cultures," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 56-66.
    20. Bai, Chen & Chen, Xiaomeng & Han, Keqing, 2020. "Mobile phone addiction and school performance among Chinese adolescents from low-income families: A moderated mediation model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5472-:d:391673. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.