Analysis on the Relationships of Smartphone Addiction, Learning Engagement, Depression, and Anxiety: Evidence from China

Abstract

Background: With the popularization of the Internet and smartphones, smartphone addiction among college students is becoming increasingly common, causing the problems of their learning engagement, anxiety, and depression. The study aimed to analyze the relationships of smartphone addiction, learning engagement, anxiety and depression among Chinese college students.

Method: Based on the Self-Determination Theory, in January 2023, 780 college students from 6 universities in Heilongjiang Province in China were selected as examples for the study. Internet Addiction Test, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-Student, Chinese version of Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory were employed to measure smartphone use, learning engagement, depression, and anxiety among college students. Pearson correlation and multiple logistic regressions were also used.

Results: Smartphone use was negatively correlated with learning engagement (r = -0.097, P < 0.001), whereas it was positively correlated with depression (r = 0.184) and anxiety (r = 0.18, P < 0.001). Significant differences were observed in learning engagement and depression and anxiety symptoms in different degrees of smartphone use. Taking severe smartphone addiction as a comparison standard, depression and anxiety symptoms had a significant influence on different levels of smartphone use, whereas learning engagement did not have a significant influence on different smartphone use levels.

Conclusion: The intervention and prevention of college students’ smartphone addiction can improve their learning engagement, relieve their anxiety and depression, and enhance their mental health level.