Patterns of ICT Use and Technological Dependence in University Students from Spain and Japan: A Cross-Cultural Analysis

José Antonio Martín Herrero (), Ana Victoria Torres García, María Concepción Vega-Hernández, Marcos Iglesias Carrera and Masako Kubo
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José Antonio Martín Herrero: Department of Social Psychology and Anthropology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Salamanca, Avda. de la Merced N.º 109-131 C. P, 37005 Salamanca, Spain
Ana Victoria Torres García: Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Threatments, Faculty of Psychology, University of Salamanca, Avda. de la Merced N.º 109-131 C. P, 37005 Salamanca, Spain
María Concepción Vega-Hernández: Department of Statistics, Higher Polytechnic School of Zamora, University of Salamanca, Av. de Requejo, 33, 49029 Zamora, Spain
Marcos Iglesias Carrera: University School of Labor Relations and Human Resources, University of Salamanca, C. San Torcuato, 43, 49014 Zamora, Spain
Masako Kubo: Department of Modern Philology, Faculty of Philology, University of Salamanca, Plaza de Anaya, s/n., 37008 Salamanca, Spain

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Background: After the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, abusive use of the internet and new information and communication technologies (ICT) among university students was detected. Our research questions were as follows: what has been the impact on the academic performance of university students, and how did the pandemic affect students’ relationship with ICTs? The aim of this research was to explore the use of cell phones and the internet in students from different cultures (Spanish and Japanese) after the pandemic. Methods: This descriptive and exploratory study analysed 206 university students from Spanish and Japanese cultures to understand their perceptions of academic performance after the pandemic, their general use of ICT, and their abusive use of the internet and mobile phones. Instruments included the Internet Overuse Scale (IOS) and the Cell-Phone Overuse Scale (COS), adapted for both Spanish and Japanese populations. Differences between quantitative variables were analyzed using the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test for independent samples (Spanish and Japanese students or by sex). Contingency tables were created to record and analyse relationships between qualitative variables using the chi-squared test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Approximately 29.6% of participants displayed excessive internet use, while 25.2% showed pathological mobile phone use. A strong association was found between high internet and mobile phone usage. Significant cultural and gender differences were observed, with higher problematic use among Japanese students and female participants. Conclusions: Excessive ICT use remains a concern in university settings, with gender and cultural factors playing key roles. These findings highlight the need for targeted digital well-being interventions.

Keywords: ICT addiction; university students; academic performance; pandemic; COVID-19; cultures and technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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