Psychological distress and problematic mobile phone use among adolescents: the mediating role of maladaptive cognitions and the moderating role of effortful control

Liu, Ru-De, Hong, Wei, Ding, Yi, Oei, Po Tian, Zhen, Rui, Jiang, Shuyang, and Liu, Jingxuan (2019) Psychological distress and problematic mobile phone use among adolescents: the mediating role of maladaptive cognitions and the moderating role of effortful control. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. 1589.

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Abstract

Previous studies have documented that psychological distress is related to problematic mobile phone use (PMPU), and sporadic research has investigated the potential mechanisms underlying the association. Based on the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use (PIU), the self-control theory, and the problem-behavior theory, this study aimed to examine the mediating role of maladaptive cognitions toward mobile phones and the moderating role of effortful control between psychological distress and PMPU. Data were collected from 1,799 secondary school students (45.1% male; Mage = 14.07, SD = 1.69) using four self-reported questionnaires. The results revealed that maladaptive cognitions toward mobile phones partially mediated the relationship between psychological distress and PMPU. In addition, effortful control as a protective factor attenuated the indirect effect from psychological distress to PMPU. These findings advanced the understanding of the etiology of PMPU and the need to develop effective strategies for prevention, suggesting that schools and families should pay additional attention to students with psychological distress. Targeted interventions for integrating online and offline worlds and effortful control training programs may help to prevent adolescents from engaging in PMPU.

Item ID: 60372
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1664-1078
Keywords: psychological distress, problematic mobile phone use, maladaptive cognitions, effortful control, adolescents, moderated mediation
Copyright Information: © 2019 Liu, Hong, Ding, Oei, Zhen, Jiang and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Date Deposited: 30 Oct 2019 00:08
FoR Codes: 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520304 Health psychology @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9202 Health and Support Services > 920205 Health Education and Promotion @ 100%
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