Smartphone addiction and associated consequences: role of loneliness and self-regulation

The ‘smartphone addiction’ is a popular theme in media. It has number of clear behavioural changes in addicts’ life and some of these aspects are yet to get due research attention. The present study identifies antecedents of smartphone addiction and its associated conflicts. The findings are based on data collected from adolescents, who are major targets for smartphone advertising and also vulnerable to addictions. The findings established ‘loneliness’ and ‘self-regulation’ as the main antecedents for smartphone addiction along with family, personal conflicts and poor academic performance as the significant negative consequences of its excessive use. The study findings would help to create awareness and offer insights for developing effective interventions for addressing smartphone addiction amongst adolescents. The planners, regulatory and administrative authorities will use the study findings to formulate measures that would promote positive coping mechanism to prevent smartphone addiction among adolescents.