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The Relationship between Social Anxiety, Smartphone Use, Dispositional Trust, and Problematic Smartphone Use: A Moderated Mediation Model

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  • Anna Maria Annoni

    (Institute of Public Health, Università della Svizzera italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
    Competence Centre on Ageing, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, 6928 Manno, Switzerland)

  • Serena Petrocchi

    (Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, Università della Svizzera italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland)

  • Anne-Linda Camerini

    (Institute of Public Health, Università della Svizzera italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
    Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, Università della Svizzera italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland)

  • Laura Marciano

    (Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, Università della Svizzera italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland)

Abstract

Background: The pervasiveness of smartphones has raised concerns about an increase in the prevalence of problematic smartphone use (PSU), which depends on a set of psychological and behavioral risk factors. Previous research has yielded mixed results on factors predicting PSU, including social anxiety and trust. In particular, the role of trust remained largely unexplored. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between social anxiety and PSU, via the mediating role of time spent on the phone, and to explore the moderating role of dispositional trust toward others, by using a moderated mediation model with PSU as the outcome. Methods: A total of 240 young adults (M age = 23.33, SD = 3.90, 50% male) answered an online questionnaire, which included the 12-item Social Anxiety Scale, a question on the daily duration of smartphone use, a single-item measure of dispositional trust, and the 10-item Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version. Gender and occupational status were included as covariates. Results: Social anxiety was significantly and positively related to PSU; however, smartphone use did not mediate this relationship. Although the relationship between smartphone use and PSU was significant and positive, the link between social anxiety and smartphone use was not. Dispositional trust moderated and strengthened the direct relationships between social anxiety and PSU as well as smartphone use and PSU. Conclusions. Heavy smartphone users as well as socially anxious individuals, with the tendency of trusting others, are more at risk of PSU, which can be explained by their preference and search for online connections.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Maria Annoni & Serena Petrocchi & Anne-Linda Camerini & Laura Marciano, 2021. "The Relationship between Social Anxiety, Smartphone Use, Dispositional Trust, and Problematic Smartphone Use: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2452-:d:509117
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    Cited by:

    1. Qing Huang & Mingxin Hu & Hongliang Chen, 2021. "Exploring Stress and Problematic Use of Short-Form Video Applications among Middle-Aged Chinese Adults: The Mediating Roles of Duration of Use and Flow Experience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Zubair Ahmed Ratan & Anne-Maree Parrish & Sojib Bin Zaman & Mohammad Saud Alotaibi & Hassan Hosseinzadeh, 2021. "Smartphone Addiction and Associated Health Outcomes in Adult Populations: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-17, November.
    3. Lili Chen & Jun Li & Jianhao Huang, 2022. "COVID-19 Victimization Experience and College Students’ Mobile Phone Addiction: A Moderated Mediation Effect of Future Anxiety and Mindfulness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Zhitan Feng & Abdullah Al Mamun & Mohammad Masukujjaman & Qing Yang, 2023. "Modeling the significance of advertising values on online impulse buying behavior," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Youlai Zeng & Jiahui Zhang & Jiaxin Wei & Shunyu Li, 2022. "The Impact of Undergraduates’ Social Isolation on Smartphone Addiction: The Roles of Academic Anxiety and Social Media Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, November.

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