Problematic Smartphone Use and Mental Health in Chinese Adults: A Population-Based Study

Ningyuan Guo, Tzu Tsun Luk, Sai Yin Ho, Jung Jae Lee, Chen Shen, John Oliffe, Sophia Siu-Chee Chan, Tai Hing Lam and Man Ping Wang
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Ningyuan Guo: School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Tzu Tsun Luk: School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Sai Yin Ho: School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Jung Jae Lee: School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Chen Shen: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
John Oliffe: School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada
Sophia Siu-Chee Chan: School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Tai Hing Lam: School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Man Ping Wang: School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has been associated with anxiety and depression, but few explored its mental well-being correlates that could co-occur with or be independent of mental symptoms. We studied the associations of PSU with anxiety, depression, and mental well-being in Hong Kong Chinese adults in a probability-based survey ( N = 4054; 55.0% females; mean age ± SD 48.3 ± 18.3 years). PSU was measured using Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. Anxiety and depression symptoms were evaluated using General Anxiety Disorder screener-2 (GAD-2) and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Mental well-being was measured using Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) and Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS). Multivariable regression analyzed associations adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle-related variables. Associations of PSU with mental well-being were stratified by symptom severity of anxiety (GAD-2 cutoff of 3) and depression (PHQ-2 cutoff of 3). We found that PSU was associated with higher odds of anxiety and depression symptom severity and lower scores of SHS and SWEMWBS. Associations of PSU with lower SHS and SWEMWBS scores remained in respondents who screened negative for anxiety or depression symptoms. To conclude, PSU was associated with anxiety, depression, and impaired mental well-being. Associations of PSU with impaired mental well-being could be independent of anxiety or depression symptoms.

Keywords: problematic smartphone use; smartphone addiction; anxiety; depression; mental well-being; population-based study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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