Using Machine Learning to Explore the Risk Factors of Problematic Smartphone Use among Canadian Adolescents during COVID-19: The Important Role of Fear of Missing Out (FoMO)

The goal of the present study was to use machine learning to identify how gender, age, ethnicity, screen time, internalizing problems, self-regulation, and FoMO were related to problematic smartphone use in a sample of Canadian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were N = 2527 (1269 boys;Mage = 15.17 years, SD = 1.48 years) high school students from the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Data on problematic smartphone use, screen time, internalizing problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, and stress), self-regulation, and FoMO were collected via an online questionnaire. Several different machine learning algorithms were used to train the statistical model of predictive variables in predicting problematic smartphone use. The results indicated that Shrinkage algorithms (lasso, ridge, and elastic net regression) performed better than other algorithms. Moreover, FoMO, emotional, and cognitive self-regulation made the largest relative contribution to predicting problematic smartphone use. These findings highlight the importance of FoMO and self-regulation in understanding problematic smartphone use.

Validity, reliability, and correlates of the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version among Japanese adults.

BACKGROUND: The short version of the smartphone addiction scale (SAS-SV) is widely used to measure problematic smartphone use (PSU). This study examined the validity and reliability of the SAS-SV among Japanese adults, as well as cross-sectional and longitudinal associations with relevant mental health traits and problems. METHODS: Datasets from a larger project on smartphone use and mental health were used to conduct two studies. Participants were adults aged over 20 years who carried a smartphone. RESULTS: Study 1 (n = 99,156) showed the acceptable internal consistency and structural validity of the SAS-SV with a bifactor model with three factors. For the test-retest reliability of the SAS-SV, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was .70, 95% CI [.69, 70], when the SAS-SV was measured seven and twelve months apart (n = 20,389). Study 2 (n = 3419) revealed that when measured concurrently, the SAS-SV was strongly positively correlated with another measure of PSU and moderately correlated with smartphone use time, problematic internet use (PIU), depression, the attentional factor of impulsiveness, and symptoms related to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. When measured 12 months apart, the SAS-SV was positively strongly associated with another measure of PSU and PIU and moderately associated with depression. DISCUSSION: The structural validity of the SAS-SV appeared acceptable among Japanese adults with the bifactor model. The reliability of the SAS-SV was demonstrated in the subsequent seven- and twelve-month associations. CONCLUSION: The cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of the SAS-SV provided further evidence regarding PSU characteristics.

Longitudinal association between problematic smartphone use and sleep disorder among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Problematic smartphone use (PSU) and sleep disorders (SD) are common public health problems among college students. While previous cross-sectional studies have found a relationship between PSU and SD, the causal direction of this relationship remains unclear. This study aims to examine the longitudinal changes of PSU and SD during the COVID-19 pandemic, determine the causal relationship between them, and identify confounding factors that affect this association. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 1186 Chinese college students (47.7% male) with a mean age of 18.08 years. Participants completed the Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at both baseline and follow-up surveys, conducted one year apart. The cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) was used to examine the causal relationship between PSU and SD, stratified by gender and duration of daily physical activity. The fixed effect panel regression was used to confirm the findings of CLPM. RESULTS: The results of the CLPM analysis showed a significant bidirectional relationship between PSU and SD for the overall sample, which was consistent with the fixed effects model findings. However, subgroup analyses revealed that the bidirectional association disappeared among males or those who engaged in daily physical activity for more than 1 h. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows a significant bidirectional association between PSU and SD, with variations across gender and daily physical activity levels. Encouraging physical activity may serve as a potential intervention to disrupt the bidirectional association between PSU and SD, which has important implications for public health strategies aimed at reducing the negative consequences of PSU and SD.

Offline and online basic need satisfaction and smartphone use behaviors: A mediation model.

Based on the self-determination theory, this study compared the offline and online need satisfaction during the COVID-19 period and investigated how the fulfilment experienced in the different settings affected an individual's smartphone use outcomes. 546 Chinese undergraduate students participated in the study and were measured with their levels of offline and online basic need satisfaction, smartphone use patterns, and problematic smartphone use. The results showed that offline basic need satisfaction negatively predicted problematic smartphone use via the information seeking pattern, whereas online basic need satisfaction positively predicted problematic smartphone use via the use patterns of transaction and entertainment. Our study expands the research scope of the pertinent topic and pinpoints the mechanism between the basic need satisfaction and problematic smartphone use.

Impact of Digital Literacy and Problematic Smartphone Use on Life Satisfaction: Comparing Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic.

Although the impact of digital literacy (DL) and problematic smartphone use (PSU) on life satisfaction was verified in previous literature, little is known about how the impact of two given variables can be differentiated during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Thus, the purpose of this study was to empirically analyze whether the influence of DL and PSU on life satisfaction has changed as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied a cross-sectional study design to analyze data obtained from a nationwide survey on smartphone overdependence conducted in 2019 and 2020 by the South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency. Large-scale data obtained from 41,883 individuals were analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis. The results show that the positive relationship between digital literacy and life satisfaction was further strengthened post-COVID-19 rather than pre-COVID-19. In addition, the results suggest that the negative relationship between PSU and life satisfaction is further strengthened during post-COVID-19 rather than pre-COVID-19. The findings indicate that the roles of digital literacy and PSU are more important after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exploring subtypes and correlates of internet gaming disorder severity among adolescents during COVID-19 in China: A latent class analysis.

The WHO recently included Gaming Disorder as a psychiatric diagnosis. Whether there are distinct groups of adolescents who differ based on severity of gaming disorder and their relationships with other mental health and addictive behavior outcomes, including problematic smartphone use (PSU), remains unclear. The current study explored and identified subtypes of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) severity and estimated the association between these subtypes and other disorders. Participants completed online questionnaires assessing the severity of IGD, PSU, depression, and anxiety during COVID-19. We conducted a latent class analysis of IGD symptoms among 1,305 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 15.2; male = 58.5%) from 11 secondary schools in Macao (SAR), China. Multinomial logistic regression estimated correlates of latent class membership and PSU. A 4-class model adequately described the sample subgroups. Classes were labeled as normative gamers (30.9%), occasional gamers (42.4%), problematic gamers (22.7%), and addictive gamers (4.1%). Relative to normative gamers, PSU severity, depression, and being male were significantly higher among problematic gamers, addictive gamers, and occasional gamers. Only problematic gamers showed significant positive associations with anxiety severity compared to the other groups. The study revealed the differences in severity of gaming disorder and its association with psychopathology outcomes. Application in screening for IGD and comorbidity is discussed. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03133-8.

Exploring digital natives' mobile addiction syndrome in Taiwan: psychological issues and beyond

Purpose This study seeks to explore digital natives' mobile usage behaviors and, in turn, develop an analytic framework that helps articulate the underlying components of mobile addiction syndrome (MAS), its severity levels and mobile usage purposes. Design/methodology/approach The investigation adopts a survey method and a case study. The results of the former are based on 411 random classroom observations and 205 questionnaire responses, and the insights of the latter are derived from 24 interviews and daily observations. Findings The findings validate five distinctive signs that constitute MAS and their significant correlations with each of the Big Five personality traits. Classroom observations confirm the prevalence of addiction tendency among digital natives in the research context. Seven levels of MAS and six different mobile usage purposes further manifest themselves from case analysis. There appears to be a sharp contrast between the addicted and non-addicted groups in their mobile purposes and behavioral patterns. Additionally, family relationships seem influential in shaping non-addictive mobile usage behaviors. Research limitations/implications Psychological perspectives on MAS may be important but insufficient. Empirical investigation on a global scale, especially with distinctive cross-cultural comparisons, will be highly encouraged. How MAS evolves over time should also serve as future research interests. Practical implications Teaching pedagogy of college education might need certain adjustments to intrigue digital natives' learning interests. Future managers might also need to adopt better performance measurements for digital natives who barely separate work from personal matters in their mobile devices. Social implications Parents and healthcare institutions may need to develop response mechanism to tackle this global issue at home and in society. The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on MAS might also deserve global attention. Originality/value The analytic framework developed provides an original mechanism that can be valuable in identifying MAS severity and associated behavioral patterns.

Comparing the prevalence of nomophobia and smartphone addiction among university students pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to: (a) explore differences in the prevalence of nomophobia and smartphone addiction (SA) from pre- to during COVID-19; (b) identify students' self-reported changes in smartphone reliance and screen time during COVID-19; and (c) examine whether self-perceived changes in smartphone usage predicted nomophobia and SA scores. METHODS: Scores on the Nomophobia Questionnaire and Smartphone Addiction Scale between two surveys administered at two timepoints were compared: Sample 1 (September 2019-January 2020; N = 878) and Sample 2 (May-June 2020; N = 258). RESULTS: No significant differences were found between samples on nomophobia or SA. Nearly all of Sample 2 reported using some type of app more, using their smartphone a little more, and about the same perceived smartphone reliance during COVID-19. Increased screen time, smartphone reliance, and social media significantly predicted nomophobia and SA. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 does not appear to have exacerbated the prevalence of nomophobia or SA.

Anxiety Symptoms Associated With the Severity of Problematic Smartphone Use: The Mediating Role of COVID-19 Anxiety

Objectives The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is regarded as the biggest global health crisis in recent decades. The changes in major life domains due to infection control strategies resemble the functional impairment consequential to emotional distress and place many people at greater risk of psychiatric conditions. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated social distancing have widely increased the usage of smartphone to receive COVID-19-related information in the past year. However, the excessive use of smartphones has deleterious consequences. The current study investigated general anxiety symptoms and COVID-19-induced anxiety, and their impact on problematic smartphone use (PSPU) severity. Methods Adults aged 18–75 years were recruited by stratified, probability sampling from a database representative of the population. Among 1080 Hong Kong Chinese (age 18–75 years), a cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted between July 23 and August 25, 2020 (the period of the third wave outbreak of CO-VID-19 in Hong Kong). Participants were assessed with the measures, including the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the associations among general anxiety symptoms, COVID-19-induced anxiety, and severity of PSPU by the Amos 22.0 software. Results Using established cut-off scores, our results found that prevalence of at least moderate anxiety level in around 22% of participants. Using SEM, both general anxiety symptoms and COVID-19-induced anxiety were associated with PSPU severity. Moreover, COVID-19 anxiety partially mediated relations between predisposing general anxiety with PSPU severity. Conclusion This study provides initial data on the mental health status of people affected by COVID-19. It also investigated the relations between COVID-19-induced anxiety and PSPU severity as a coping mechanism. © 2022, Iran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.

Associations Between Online Learning, Smartphone Addiction Problems, and Psychological Symptoms in Chinese College Students After the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Smartphone-based online education gained popularity during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Although recent studies have highlighted the association between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and mental health symptoms, the potential role of online learning in this relationship remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze the relationships between higher education modes, PSU, and related psychological symptoms in university students. Methods: A total of 1,629 Chinese university students from five provinces completed a web-based questionnaire survey between March 2020 and October 2021. Demographic characteristics and learning conditions were recorded. All participants completed the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and Athens Insomnia Scale. Multiple regressions models and stratified analyses were used to examine the association between online education mode, PSU, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Results: The prevalence of PSU was 58.5%. Students who relied primarily on online learning had a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms (29.95% vs. 22.24%), anxiety symptoms (25.13% vs. 18.91%), and insomnia symptoms (75.89% vs. 70.27%) than those who relied on traditional face-to-face learning (Ps < 0.05). After adjusting for covariates, subjects with PSU were more likely to report depressive symptoms (AdjOR = 3.14, 95% CI = 2.26-4.37), anxiety symptoms (AdjOR = 3.73, 95% CI = 2.13-4.59), and insomnia symptoms (AdjOR = 2.96, 95% CI = 2.23-3.92) than those without PSU. Furthermore, the associations of PSU with depressive symptoms (OR = 4.66 vs. 2.33, P for interaction = 0.015) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 6.05 vs. 2.94, P for interaction = 0.021) were more pronounced in the online learning group. Conclusion: Our study provides preliminary evidence that Chinese university students have serious smartphone addiction problems, which are associated with depressive, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms. Online learning is found to exacerbate PSU and mental health problems. Our findings provide valuable information for targeted psychological interventions in the post-COVID-19 era.

Longitudinal Effects of Stressful Life Events on Problematic Smartphone Use and the Mediating Roles of Mental Health Problems in Chinese Undergraduate Students.

Background and Aims: This three-wave longitudinal study investigated the effects of stressful life events on problematic smartphone use and the mediating roles of mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and suicidal ideation) in Chinese undergraduate students. Methods: A total of 197 undergraduate students completed the three-wave surveys. Their severity of stressful life events, mental health problems, and problematic smartphone use were assessed. Results: Regression analyses revealed that stressful life events at T1 was significantly associated with problematic smartphone use at T3. Mediation analyses showed that mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and suicidal ideation) at T2 fully mediated the association between stressful life events at T1 and problematic smartphone use at T3 (B = 0.042, 0.034, and 0.022, respectively). Conclusions: The present study revealed that stressful life events and mental health problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and suicidal ideation) are predictors of problematic smartphone use in Chinese college students.

Effect of Growth Mindset on Mental Health Two Years Later: The Role of Smartphone Use.

The negative association between the growth mindset and mental health problems suggests that prevention and intervention programs to improve mental health by targeting mindset may have potential clinical value. However, research on the longitudinal effect of mindset on adolescent mental health and its underlying mechanisms is lacking. Using a three-wave longitudinal design, we obtained data from a diverse sample of Chinese adolescents (n = 2543). Longitudinal multiple mediation models were constructed to examine the effects of the growth mindset on levels of anxiety and depression two years later. In addition, the mediating effects of smartphone use for entertainment and problematic smartphone use (PSU) were examined. After controlling for various covariates and the autoregressive effects of mental health problems, the growth mindset had significant negative effects on anxiety (ß = -0.053, p = 0.004) and depression (ß = -0.074, p < 0.001). Smartphone use had a significant mediating role in the effect of mindset on anxiety (ß = -0.016, p < 0.001) and depression (ß = -0.016, p < 0.001). The growth mindset has long-lasting positive effects on adolescent mental health. Smartphone use for entertainment and PSU mediate the effect of mindset on adolescent mental health.

Nomophobia in the Portuguese population in pandemic context: Comparative study before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background and Aim: Nomophobia (no mobile phone) is defined as a digital era phobia characterized by an excessive fear of not being able to use the cell phone. In the COVID-19 pandemic context, there was an intensification of information and communication technology. The current study aimed to explore differences in nomophobia levels during the COVID-19 pandemic and those evidenced before the pandemic situation. Additionally, we sought to analyze the relationship between nomophobia and variables such as the frequency of use of screens for professional purposes, the use of cell phone management, and to what extent the pandemic made screen use a recurrent practice. We hypothesize that the fact that most of the daily activities took place at home (e.g., teleworking, online classes), there is a global decrease of nomophobia levels. Methods: Cross-sectional study. The sample comprised 288 participants from the general population in a pandemic situation and 500 participants who took part in a survey conducted before the pandemic. All participants completed online the European Portuguese version of the Nomophobia Questionnaire. Results: The nomophobia levels observed during the pandemic situation were lower compared to the pre-pandemic period. There were no statistically significant differences in nomophobia levels by sex, marital status, or recurrent use of the screen. Nomophobia was not associated with age, use of screens for professional purposes, or mobile phone management. Conclusions: Given that most activities occurred at home (e.g., teleworking, online classes), the nomophobia levels during the Covid-19 pandemic were lower. This seems to be related to the global decrease of the fear of not being able to communicate through the smartphone, losing connectivity, not being able to access information and the fear of not having a Wi-Fi signal or running out of battery.

Stress, academic burnout, smartphone use types and problematic smartphone use: The moderation effects of resilience.

Few studies have investigated stress in association with social and process smartphone use and how these types of use influence problematic smartphone use during the COVID-19 pandemic; furthermore, the moderation effects of resilience have been rarely tested in this model. For these, a cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 766 Chinese undergraduate students (74.4% female; M = 20.1 years, SD = 1.15) who were measured with their levels of stress, academic burnout, smartphone use types (social/process smartphone use), resilience, and problematic smartphone use. Based on the I-PACE theory, we built a structural equation model, and the results indicated that compared with social smartphone use, process smartphone use more related to problematic smartphone use; academic burnout fully mediated between stress and process smartphone use, and between stress and problematic smartphone use. Moreover, resilience moderated between stress and academic burnout, between academic burnout and process smartphone use, and between academic burnout and problematic smartphone use. We discuss the process smartphone use as a key indicator of problematic smartphone use and the role of academic burnout for linking stress and smartphone use behaviors. In addition, interventions for enhancing resilience should be launched in the future.

Problematic smartphone use among high school students and its relationships with depression, stress, self-esteem, grit and academic performance

The world currently has more than three billion smartphone users. The smartphone is fully integrated into the daily life of individuals, including 95% of American teenagers. Excessive use of the smartphone leads to smartphone addiction and Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU), which has been associated with depression, stress, reduced self-esteem, and decreased academic performance. This study addresses a gap in research by surveying high school students to assess for associations among PSU, depression, perceived stress, self-esteem, grit, and academic performance. This quantitative study was conducted in a comprehensive Southern California high school district. This study contributes empirical research to deepen the understanding of the relationship high school students have with their smartphones and the negative outcomes of PSU and device dependency. This study was conducted during the COVID-19 global pandemic during school campus closures, distance learning, and campus hybrid re-openings of the 2020-2021 school year. Participants for this study included 319 high school students. Results of this study report student use of the smartphone to support learning inside and outside of the classroom. Results also indicate significant correlations among the variables of PSU, depression, perceived stress, self-esteem, grit, and academic performance and reveal evidence of PSU among some students in each of the grade levels and different levels of academic performance. Implications of this study include informing families, educators, district administrators, and policymakers to more fully and rigorously utilize the electronic device policy provided in California Assembly Bill 272 and to implement more robust and thoughtful classroom smartphone policies. This study also aims to build awareness among students, families, and the educational community regarding PSU behaviors to support teenage high school students experiencing PSU to find productive smartphone uses and establish healthy boundaries between user and device. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Relationship of Problematic Smartphone Use, Sleep Quality, and Daytime Fatigue Among Quarantined Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought about great transformation to medical education mode. Although mobile communication devices played a crucial role in online learning among quarantined university students, the potential smartphone addition problems, negative health behaviors, and psychological symptoms need considerable attention. This study examined the relationship of problematic smartphone use (PSU), sleep quality, and daytime fatigue among medical students. Methods: A web-based survey was conducted in six polyclinic hospitals in Beijing between February and May 2020. 1016 participants (26.01 ± 2.46 years, 65.16% female) completed self-report measurements including Short Version Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and Subjective Fatigue Scale (FS). Spearman correlation coefficients and multiple regression models were used to analyze the association among PSU, sleep quality, and daytime fatigue. We used structural equation modeling to test the mediating effect of sleep quality between PSU and daytime fatigue. Results: 49.70% of the participants had PSU. Significant positive correlations were found among SAS-SV, AIS, and FS scores (r = 0.35-0.61, P S < 0.001). Subjects with PSU were more likely to report sleep disturbance (ß = 1.07, P < 0.001, OR = 2.91, 95%CI = 2.17-3.91), physical fatigue (ß = 1.16, P < 0.001, OR = 3.18, 95%CI = 2.45-4.15), and mental fatigue (ß = 0.88, P < 0.001, OR = 2.42, 95%CI = 1.86-3.14). The indirect effect of PSU on physical fatigue and mental fatigue mediated by sleep quality accounted for 50.03 and 45.43% of the total effect, respectively. Conclusions: PSU was significantly associated with sleep disturbance and fatigue among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sleep quality mediated the relationship between PSU and daytime fatigue. Our results provide valuable information for maintaining medical students' health status and constructing online education structures.

The association between obesity and problematic smartphone use among school-age children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study in Shanghai.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to investigate the association between content-based problematic smartphone use and obesity in school-age children and adolescents, including variations in the association by educational stage and sex. METHODS: Two-stage non-probability sampling was used to recruit 8419 participants from nineteen primary schools, five middle schools, and thirteen high schools in Shanghai in December 2017. Obesity was identified by body mass index (BMI), which was obtained from the school physical examination record, while problematic smartphone use was measured by the Revised Problematic Smartphone Use Classification Scale as the independent variable. RESULTS: The rates of obesity varied with educational stages, while problematic smartphone use increased with educational stages. Male students reported higher obesity rates (37.1%vs19.4%, P < 0.001) and greater problematic smartphone use scores (25.65 ± 10.37 vs 22.88 ± 8.94, P < 0.001) than female students. Problematic smartphone use for entertainment (smartphone users addicted to entertainment games, music, videos, novels and other applications) was positively associated to obesity status for primary school [odds ratio (OR), 1.030; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.005-1.057] and high school students (OR, 1.031; 95% CI, 1.004-1.059). For female students, problematic smartphone use for entertainment was positively associated with obesity status (OR, 1.046; 95% CI, 1.018-1.075). CONCLUSIONS: Problematic smartphone use may be associated with obesity in children and adolescents. The association differed based on the educational stage and sex, and the difference possessed dimensional specificity.

Anxiety sensitivity mediates relations between anxiety (but not depression) and problematic smartphone use severity, adjusting for age and sex, in Chinese adolescents early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Risk factors for problematic smartphone use (PSU) have rapidly become an important area of research due to the prevalence of smartphones and functional impairment associated with PSU. Our aim was to examine relations between established predictors of PSU (depression and anxiety) and a potential mediator of PSU (anxiety sensitivity; AS). Participants (N = 4752) from junior and senior high schools in Tianjin, China completed a web-based survey with measures of depression, anxiety, AS, and PSU. Descriptive and inferential analyses revealed significant differences between males and females on depression severity, and between junior and senior high school students on AS and PSU severity. Results of structural equation modeling indicated that anxiety was positively associated with AS when adjusting for depression; and AS was significantly associated with greater PSU severity, adjusting for age and sex. Additionally, AS mediated relations between anxiety and PSU severity. Current findings on AS are consistent with theoretical models of problematic internet use (Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution) and previous research linking AS to other kinds of behavioral addictions (e.g., smoking, alcohol use).

Academic Burnout and Problematic Smartphone Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Effects of Anxiety and Resilience.

Background: Academic burnout has been associated with problematic smartphone use. However, the mechanism underlying this relation has been inadequately explored during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A total of 748 Chinese undergraduate students were recruited in the study who were measured with their levels of academic burnout, anxiety, resilience, and problematic smartphone use. Results: Our study showed that academic burnout significantly predicted problematic smartphone use both directly and indirectly via anxiety. By constructing a moderated mediation model, our study found that resilience moderated the direct impact and the second half of the indirect path (between anxiety and problematic smartphone use); however, with the moderation effects of resilience, both the indirect impact of academic burnout on problematic smartphone use via anxiety became insignificant. Conclusions: Our findings brought additional evidence on the association between academic burnout and problematic smartphone use and significantly suggested the potential solution to alleviate the influences.