IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i11p5724-d562849.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Problematic Smartphone Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Its Association with Pandemic-Related and Generalized Beliefs

Author

Listed:
  • Meng Xuan Zhang

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
    Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Institute of Collaborative Innovation, University of Macau, Macao, China
    Co-first author.)

  • Juliet Honglei Chen

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
    Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Institute of Collaborative Innovation, University of Macau, Macao, China
    Co-first author.)

  • Kwok Kit Tong

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China)

  • Eilo Wing-yat Yu

    (Department of Government and Public Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China)

  • Anise M. S. Wu

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
    Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Institute of Collaborative Innovation, University of Macau, Macao, China)

Abstract

Smartphone technologies have played a crucial role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the increased use of smartphones during the pandemic period may expose the general public to a higher risk of problematic smartphone use (PSU). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of PSU among Chinese community adults and adopted a social-cognitive theory and social axiom framework to evaluate the effects of beliefs on PSU. A Chinese adult sample ( N = 616) was obtained through probability sampling via a telephone survey from Macao, China and included 591 smartphone users’ data (39.4% men) for formal analysis. The prevalence of PSU was 43.3% in the overall sample, with 41.9% in women, and 45.5% in men. Two types of beliefs derived from the social-cognitive theory, pandemic-related self-efficacy and government efficacy, both showed significant and negative correlations with PSU ( r = −0.13 and −0.10, p < 0.05). As for the two beliefs from the social axiom framework, reward for application was negatively correlated with PSU ( r = −0.10, p < 0.05), whereas social cynicism was positively associated with PSU ( r = 0.25, p < 0.001). Among those four beliefs, social cynicism exerted the most substantial effect on PSU when controlling for demographics. Our findings enriched the understanding of PSU during the pandemic and provided empirical direction regarding cognition-based intervention strategies for reducing PSU.

Suggested Citation

  • Meng Xuan Zhang & Juliet Honglei Chen & Kwok Kit Tong & Eilo Wing-yat Yu & Anise M. S. Wu, 2021. "Problematic Smartphone Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Its Association with Pandemic-Related and Generalized Beliefs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5724-:d:562849
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/5724/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/5724/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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. Borja Sañudo & Curtis Fennell & Antonio J. Sánchez-Oliver, 2020. "Objectively-Assessed Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Smartphone Use, and Sleep Patterns Pre- and during-COVID-19 Quarantine in Young Adults from Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-12, July.
    3. Yuen Yu Chong & Wai Tong Chien & Ho Yu Cheng & Ka Ming Chow & Angelos P. Kassianos & Maria Karekla & Andrew Gloster, 2020. "The Role of Illness Perceptions, Coping, and Self-Efficacy on Adherence to Precautionary Measures for COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-11, September.
    4. Paolo Roma & Merylin Monaro & Laura Muzi & Marco Colasanti & Eleonora Ricci & Silvia Biondi & Christian Napoli & Stefano Ferracuti & Cristina Mazza, 2020. "How to Improve Compliance with Protective Health Measures during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Testing a Moderated Mediation Model and Machine Learning Algorithms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-17, October.
    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. Cecilia Cheng & Yan-Ching Lau, 2022. "Social Media Addiction during COVID-19-Mandated Physical Distancing: Relatedness Needs as Motives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Lili Chen & Jun Li & Jianhao Huang, 2022. "COVID-19 Victimization Experience and College Students’ Mobile Phone Addiction: A Moderated Mediation Effect of Future Anxiety and Mindfulness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-16, 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. Lisa Woodland & Ava Hodson & Rebecca K. Webster & Richard Amlôt & Louise E. Smith & James Rubin, 2022. "A Qualitative Study Evaluating the Factors Affecting Families’ Adherence to the First COVID-19 Lockdown in England Using the COM-B Model and TDF," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-21, June.
    2. María-Carmen Ricoy & Sara Martínez-Carrera & Isabel Martínez-Carrera, 2022. "Social Overview of Smartphone Use by Teenagers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-15, November.
    3. 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.
    4. Melina A. Throuvala & Mark D. Griffiths & Mike Rennoldson & Daria J. Kuss, 2019. "A ‘Control Model’ of Social Media Engagement in Adolescence: A Grounded Theory Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Éva Bácsné Bába & Anetta Müller & Christa Pfau & Renátó Balogh & Éva Bartha & György Szabados & Zoltán Bács & Kinga Ráthonyi-Ódor & Gergely Ráthonyi, 2023. "Sedentary Behavior Patterns of the Hungarian Adult Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, February.
    6. Livia Jonnatan & Cherisse L. Seaton & Kathy L. Rush & Eric P. H. Li & Khalad Hasan, 2022. "Mobile Device Usage before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Rural and Urban Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-17, July.
    7. Jihye Choi & Youjeong Park & Hye-Eun Kim & Jihyeok Song & Daeun Lee & Eunhye Lee & Hyeonjin Kang & Jeeho Lee & Jihyeon Park & Ji-Woo Lee & Seongeun Ye & Seul Lee & Sohee Ryu & Yeojeong Kim & Ye-Ri Kim, 2021. "Daily Life Changes and Life Satisfaction among Korean School-Aged Children in the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-17, March.
    8. Sandra Figueiredo & Raquel João & Laura Alho & João Hipólito, 2022. "Psychological Research on Sleep Problems and Adjustment of Working Hours during Teleworking in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, November.
    9. Aurélie Goncalves & Sarah Le Vigouroux & Elodie Charbonnier, 2021. "University Students’ Lifestyle Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Four-Wave Longitudinal Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-9, August.
    10. Zhe Cheng & Xinzhou Wu & Victor Kuzmichev & Dominique Adolphe, 2022. "The Influence of Major Ergonomic Factors on the Demand for Underwear in the Highly Educated Male Group," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-10, September.
    11. Yu-Hsiu Chu & Yao-Chuen Li, 2022. "The Impact of Online Learning on Physical and Mental Health in University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-10, March.
    12. Khaled Trabelsi & Achraf Ammar & Liwa Masmoudi & Omar Boukhris & Hamdi Chtourou & Bassem Bouaziz & Michael Brach & Ellen Bentlage & Daniella How & Mona Ahmed & Patrick Mueller & Notger Mueller & Hsen , 2021. "Sleep Quality and Physical Activity as Predictors of Mental Wellbeing Variance in Older Adults during COVID-19 Lockdown: ECLB COVID-19 International Online Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-18, April.
    13. Aleksandra Nikolic & Bojana Bukurov & Ilija Kocic & Ivan Soldatovic & Sladjana Mihajlovic & Dejan Nesic & Milica Vukovic & Nikola Ladjevic & Sandra Sipetic Grujicic, 2022. "The Validity and Reliability of the Serbian Version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale—Short Version," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, January.
    14. Curtis Fennell & Thomas Eremus & Moisés Grimaldi Puyana & Borja Sañudo, 2022. "The Importance of Physical Activity to Augment Mood during COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, January.
    15. Melina A. Throuvala & Mark D. Griffiths & Mike Rennoldson & Daria J. Kuss, 2020. "Mind over Matter: Testing the Efficacy of an Online Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Distraction from Smartphone Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-30, July.
    16. Xavier Carbonell & Andrés Chamarro & Ursula Oberst & Beatriz Rodrigo & Mariona Prades, 2018. "Problematic Use of the Internet and Smartphones in University Students: 2006–2017," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-13, March.
    17. Kirsten Vanderplanken & Stephan Van den Broucke & Isabelle Aujoulat & Joris Adriaan Frank van Loenhout, 2021. "The Relation between Perceived and Actual Understanding and Adherence: Results from a National Survey on COVID-19 Measures in Belgium," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-10, September.
    18. Chi-Tz Kuo & Hsiao-Jui Sue & Po-Han Chen, 2021. "The Impact of Community Housing Characteristics and Epidemic Prevention Measures on Residents’ Perception of Epidemic Prevention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-22, July.
    19. Pierluigi Cordellieri & Benedetta Barchielli & Valeria Masci & Francesca Viani & Ivan de Pinto & Andrea Priori & Felice Damiano Torriccelli & Chiara Cosmo & Stefano Ferracuti & Anna Maria Giannini & J, 2021. "Psychological Health Status of Psychiatric Patients Living in Treatment Communities before and during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Brief Report," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-9, March.
    20. Piotr Dziemidok & Daria Gorczyca-Siudak & Marzena Danielak, 2021. "Is It Possible to Prevent Sars-Cov-2 Infection in a Non-Infectious Diseases Ward during the Pandemic on the Example of a Diabetes Clinic Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-15, July.

    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:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5724-:d:562849. 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.