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

ABSTRACT

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)