A survey conducted on middle and high school students in South Korea revealed that those experiencing increased anxiety, depression, feelings of loneliness, and experiences of abusive treatment are more likely to overly rely on their smartphones. Girls were found to be more prone to developing this dependency than boys, according to PsyPost, citing the journal Scientific Reports. For teenagers in many countries, smartphones have become a cultural tool they use to organize social relationships and interact with others. In this way, smartphones have transcended their role as media technology used when necessary or as a means of communication.
Results from a national survey in South Korea indicated that nearly 1 in 4 individuals aged 3 to 69 could be classified as overly dependent on their smartphones, representing a rapid increase from previous years. Overdependence on smartphones is a condition where individuals excessively rely on their smartphones in daily activities and social interactions, negatively affecting their well-being. Overuse of smartphones can lead to decreased face-to-face communication, reduced productivity, and poor mental health, including anxiety and depression. Physical issues such as eye strain, sleep disorders, and poor posture are also common among those who are overly dependent on their smartphones. Teenagers appear to be the most vulnerable to this overdependence.
Researchers Dapok Noh and Mi-Soo Shim conducted an analytical study titled "Factors Influencing Overdependence on Smartphones Among Teenagers." They also aimed to identify groups of teenagers particularly at risk for this condition. The results showed that older teenagers were more likely to overdepend on their smartphones compared to younger teenagers, with 30% of girls showing signs of overdependence compared to 21% of boys. Teenagers from low socioeconomic status families were more likely to overdepend on smartphones.
The risk of overdependence on smartphones was about 2.5 times higher among participants experiencing high anxiety (51%) compared to those with minimal anxiety (19%). The risk was also higher among participants suffering from depression, those feeling lonely, and individuals who underwent hospitalization due to violence they experienced. Additional analysis revealed that girls with severe anxiety were the group most likely to overdepend on smartphones, with 53% of teenagers in this group meeting the criteria for this condition.
The researchers stated that "anxiety, feelings of loneliness, depressive symptoms, and experiences of treatment due to violence were predictors of the risk of overdependence on smartphones among South Korean students aged 12 to 18." They concluded that interventions for smartphone overdependence should emphasize the assessment, prevention, and treatment of anxiety due to the strong association between anxiety and smartphone overdependence.
