TITLE:
Predictive Factors for Smartphone Dependence: Relationship to Demographic Characteristics, Chronotype, and Depressive State of University Students
AUTHORS:
Masahiro Toda, Nobuhiro Nishio, Tatsuya Takeshita
KEYWORDS:
Chronotype, Depressive State, Smartphone, University Students, Wakayama Smartphone-Dependence Scale (WSDS)
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Vol.5 No.12,
December
17,
2015
ABSTRACT: We investigated factors contributing to smartphone dependence. To 196 medical university students,
we administered a set of self-reporting questionnaires designed to evaluate demographic
characteristics, smartphone dependence, chronotype, and depressive state. Smartphone dependence
was evaluated using the Wakayama Smartphone-Dependence Scale (WSDS) with 3 subscales:
Subscale 1, immersion in Internet communication; Subscale 2, using a smartphone for extended
periods of time and neglecting social obligations and other tasks; Subscale 3, using a
smartphone while doing something else and neglect of etiquette. Multiple regression analyses revealed
that living in a family, eveningness, and presence of depression were associated with Subscale
1, that living in a family and eveningness were also associated with Subscale 2, and that being
a man was associated with Subscale 3. These findings suggest that smartphone dependence can be
predicted by factors such as gender, mode of residence, chronotype, or depressive state.