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

Olatz Lopez-Fernandez (1, 2) , Daria J. Kuss (1) , Lucia Romo (3) , Yannick Morvan (3) , Laurence Kern (4) , Pierluigi Graziani (5, 6) , Amélie Rousseau (7) , Hans-Jürgen Rumpf (8) , Anja Bischof (8) , Ann-Kathrin Gässler (8) , Adriano Schimmenti (9) , Alessia Passanisi (9) , Niko Männikkö (10) , Maria Kääriänen (11, 12) , Zsolt Demetrovics (13) , Orsolya Király (13) , Mariano Chóliz (14) , Juan José Zacarés (14) , Emilia Serra (14) , Mark D. Griffiths (1) , Halley M. Pontes (1) , Bernadeta Lelonek-Kuleta (15) , Joanna Chwaszcz (15) , Daniele Zullino (16, 17, 18) , Lucien Rochat (17) , Sophia Achab (16, 17, 18) , Joël Billieux (2, 19)

1 Nottingham Trent University
2 UCL - Université Catholique de Louvain = Catholic University of Louvain
3 CliPsyD - Clinique, Psychanalyse, Développement
4 CeRSM - Centre de Recherche sur le Sport et le Mouvement
5 LPS - Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale
6 UNIMES - Université de Nîmes
7 PSITEC - Psychologie : Interactions, Temps, Emotions, Cognition (PSITEC) - ULR 4072
8 Universität zu Lübeck = University of Lübeck [Lübeck]
9 Università degli Studi di Enna " KORE " = Kore University of Enna
10 Oulu University of Applied Sciences
11 University of Oulu
12 Oulu University Hospital [Oulu]
13 ELTE - Eötvös Loránd University
14 UV - Universitat de València
15 KUL - John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
16 Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry
17 UNIGE - Université de Genève = University of Geneva
18 Neuroscience Center [University of Geneva]
19 University of Luxembourg [Luxembourg]

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.

Mots clés: behavioral addictions; Cross-cultural research; mobile phone dependence; Problematic mobile phone use; young adults

Domaines: Psychologie; Psychologie et comportements; Psychologie

Olatz Lopez-Fernandez, Daria J. Kuss, Lucia Romo, Yannick Morvan, Laurence Kern, et al.. Self-Reported Dependence on Mobile Phones in Young Adults: A European Cross-Cultural Empirical Survey. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 2017, 6 (2), pp.168-177. ⟨10.1556/2006.6.2017.020⟩. ⟨hal-01566636⟩