RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of depression, impulsivity, and resilience on smartphone addiction in university students. METHODS: A total of 322 students from two universities in Seoul were enrolled in this study. Participants were divided into a risk user group and normal user group according to results using the Korean smartphone addiction scale. We additionally surveyed smartphone use patterns of the participants. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), and Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RS) were also used for measurement of the participants' severity of depression, impulsivity, and resilience. RESULTS: The risk user group spent more time using a smartphone on weekdays than the normal user group. The risk user group showed significantly higher scores on BDI, BIS than the normal user group. The risk user group showed significantly lower scores on CD-RS than the normal user group. Results of multiple regression analysis showed that impulsivity was a significant factor affecting smartphone addiction in university students. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that smartphone addiction is influenced by impulsivity. Students with high impulsivity may be vulnerable to smartphone addiction. Further research regarding the underlying mechanisms of these associations is needed.