Self-Reported Dependence on Mobile Phones in Young Adults: A European Cross-Cultural Empirical Survey

• Published in: Journal of Behavioral Addictions
• Main Authors: Lopez-Fernandez, Olatz, Kuss, Daria J., Romo, Lucia, Morvan, Yannick, Kern, Laurence, Graziani, Pierluigi, Rousseau, Amélie, Rumpf, Hans-Jürgen, Bischof, Anja, Gässler, Ann-Kathrin, Schimmenti, Adriano, Passanisi, Alessia, Männikkö, Niko, Kääriänen, Maria, Demetrovics, Zsolt, Király, Orsolya, Chóliz, Mariano, Zacarés, Juan José, Serra, Emilia, Griffiths, Mark D., Pontes, Halley M., Lelonek-Kuleta, Bernadeta, Chwaszcz, Joanna, Zullino, Daniele, Rochat, Lucien, Achab, Sophia, Billieux, Joël
• Other Authors: Nottingham Trent University, Université Catholique de Louvain = Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), Clinique, Psychanalyse, Développement (CliPsyD), Université Paris Nanterre (UPN), Centre de Recherche sur le Sport et le Mouvement (CeRSM), Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale (LPS), Aix Marseille Université (AMU), Université de Nîmes (UNIMES), Psychologie : Interactions, Temps, Emotions, Cognition (PSITEC) - ULR 4072 (PSITEC), Université de Lille, Universität zu Lübeck = University of Lübeck Lübeck, Università degli Studi di Enna " KORE " = Kore University of Enna, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu University Hospital Oulu, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Universitat de València (UV), John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospital of Geneva, Université de Genève = University of Geneva (UNIGE), Neuroscience Center University of Geneva, University of Luxembourg Luxembourg
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2017
• Subjects: behavioral addictions; Cross-cultural research; mobile phone dependence; Problematic mobile phone use; young adults; [SCCO.PSYC]Cognitive science/Psychology; [SDV.NEU.PC]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Neurons and Cognition [q-bio.NC]/Psychology and behavior; [SHS.PSY]Humanities and Social Sciences/Psychology; North Finland
• Online Access: https://hal.parisnanterre.fr/hal-01566636; https://hal.parisnanterre.fr/hal-01566636/document; https://hal.parisnanterre.fr/hal-01566636/file/jba-06-02-020.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.020

International audience Background and aims Despite many positive benefits, mobile phone use can be associated with harmful and detrimental behaviors. The aim of this study was twofold: to examine (a) cross-cultural patterns of perceived dependence on mobile phones in ten European countries, first, grouped in four different regions (North: Finland and UK; South: Spain and Italy; East: Hungary and Poland; West: France, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland), and second by country, and (b) how socio-demographics, geographic differences, mobile phone usage patterns, and associated activities predicted this perceived dependence. Methods A sample of 2,775 young adults (aged 18-29 years) were recruited in different European Universities who participated in an online survey. Measures included socio-demographic variables, patterns of mobile phone use, and the dependence subscale of a short version of the Problematic Mobile Phone Use Questionnaire (PMPUQ; Billieux, Van der Linden, & Rochat, 2008). Results The young adults from the Northern and Southern regions reported the heaviest use of mobile phones, whereas perceived dependence was less prevalent in the Eastern region. However, the proportion of highly dependent mobile phone users was more elevated in Belgium, UK, and France. Regression analysis identified several risk factors for increased scores on the PMPUQ dependence subscale, namely using mobile phones daily, being female, engaging in social networking, playing video games, shopping and viewing TV shows through the Internet, chatting and messaging, and using mobile phones for downloading-related activities. Discussion and conclusions Self-reported dependence on mobile phone use is influenced by frequency and specific application usage.