RESUMO
PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the status of smartphone addiction among nursing students and to examine the mediating effects of Internet ethics on the relationship between smartphone addiction, physical symptoms and psychological well-being. METHODS: Data were collected between May 20 and June 23, 2014. Participants were a convenience sample of 214 nursing students of one university in Seoul. Structured questionnaires were used to measure degree of smartphone addiction, physical symptoms, psychological well-being and Internet ethics. Data was analyzed using Independent t-test, One-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple hierarchical regression. RESULTS: Of the nursing students, 14.5% had high level of risk of smartphone addiction and 16.8% had potential risk. Higher frequency of physical symptoms and lower level of Internet ethics were related to the higher level of smartphone addiction. Voluntary-control in Internet ethics had mediating effects on the relationship between smartphone addiction and physical symptoms. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the level of smartphone addiction may lowered in nursing students by intensifying Internet ethics especially voluntary-control. Based on these findings, Internet ethics program for nursing students should be developed to facilitate the effective use of smartphones.