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Beyond Screen Time: Exploring the Associations between Types of Smartphone Use Content and Adolescents’ Social Relationships

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  • Shunsen Huang

    (State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Xiaoxiong Lai

    (State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Xinmei Zhao

    (State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Xinran Dai

    (State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Yuanwei Yao

    (Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
    Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
    Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany)

  • Cai Zhang

    (Collaborative Innovation Centre of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Yun Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

Abstract

The past two decades have witnessed controversy over whether the use of digital technology has damaged or enhanced adolescents’ social relationships, which influences their development. In this study, we addressed this debate by specifying the effect of different types of smartphone use content on social relationships, rather than simply relying on screen time spent on digital media. To avoid selective analysis and report of different variables, we used specification curve analysis (SCA) in a large dataset (N = 46,018) to explore the correlations between 20 types of smartphone use content and adolescents’ social relationships (parent–child, peer, and teacher–student). The types of smartphone use content were measured by the revised version of Mobile Phone Use Pattern Scale, the Parent-Child Relationship Scale, the Peer Relationship Scale, and the Teacher-Student Relationship Scale assessed three different social relationships, respectively. Of the 20 types of smartphone use content, only playing games (negatively explaining 1% of the variation), taking online courses (positively explaining 1.6% of the variation), using search engines (positively explaining 1.2% of the variation), using a dictionary (positively explaining 1.3% of the variation), and obtaining life information (positively explaining 1.5% of the variation) showed a significant effect size. The association between smartphone use and adolescents’ social relationships depends on the various types of content with which adolescents engage during smartphone use. The various effects of different types of smartphone use content deserve the attention of both the public and policy-makers.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:8940-:d:869526
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Jinhee Lee & Joung-Sook Ahn & Seongho Min & Min-Hyuk Kim, 2020. "Psychological Characteristics and Addiction Propensity According to Content Type of Smartphone Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-10, March.
    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. Sun, Ruimei & Gao, Qiufeng & Xiang, Yanhui & Chen, Tong & Liu, Ting & Chen, Qianyi, 2020. "Parent–child relationships and mobile phone addiction tendency among Chinese adolescents: The mediating role of psychological needs satisfaction and the moderating role of peer relationships," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    5. Uri Simonsohn & Joseph P. Simmons & Leif D. Nelson, 2020. "Specification curve analysis," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(11), pages 1208-1214, November.
    6. Xiaoxiong Lai & Chang Nie & Shunsen Huang & Yajun Li & Tao Xin & Cai Zhang & Yun Wang, 2022. "Effect of Growth Mindset on Mental Health Two Years Later: The Role of Smartphone Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-11, March.
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    1. Vida Lang & Andrej Šorgo, 2024. "Views of Students, Parents, and Teachers on Smartphones and Tablets in the Development of 21st-Century Skills as a Prerequisite for a Sustainable Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-14, April.

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