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Problematic Smartphone Use in Spanish and Italian University Students

Author

Listed:
  • Rosabel Roig-Vila

    (Department of General Didactic and Specific Training, Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain)

  • Paz Prendes-Espinosa

    (Department of Didactic and School Organization, Faculty of Education, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain)

  • Mayra Urrea-Solano

    (Department of General Didactic and Specific Training, Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain)

Abstract

Sustainable education requires the proper usage of technological devices. Among these is the smartphone, which is used by millions of young people around the world in today’s society. The objective of this study was to understand the smartphone usage profile of Spanish and Italian university students. It also aimed to identify possible problematic uses, and the differences in smartphone use (or abuse) between the participating subjects. The study was descriptive and comparative, with the intentional sampling of N = 1412 subjects studying at the education faculties of the University of Alicante (UA) and the Suor Orsola Benincasa University (UNISOB). A previously-validated questionnaire with 27 items was employed during the 2019–20 academic year. The data was analysed using the SPSS 25 programme. Descriptive and inferential analyses were carried out. The results obtained after the analysis of the data indicated that, of the four possible user types—occasional, habitual, at risk, and problematic—more than half of the sample identified themselves as habitual users. It can be concluded that there are significant differences between the universities: the UA students exhibited more problematic use than the UNISOB students. It is therefore necessary to prepare training programmes that are designed to avert problematic behaviours related to smartphone use.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosabel Roig-Vila & Paz Prendes-Espinosa & Mayra Urrea-Solano, 2020. "Problematic Smartphone Use in Spanish and Italian University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:24:p:10255-:d:458862
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