Smartphones and psychosocial development

Self-compassion mediates the association between trait anxiety and smartphone attachment in digital natives but not digital immigrants

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21540915
AutoresLeora N Hodes (0000-0003-0387-8516, University of Cape Town, autor correspondente), Jessica Oosthuizen (0000-0002-0916-2589, University of Cape Town), Michelle Henry (0000-0001-8244-1421, University of Cape Town), Kevin GF Thomas (0000-0002-0807-6101, University of Cape Town)
Ano2022
Volume39
Fascículo4
Páginas558-574
Data de publicação2022-07-04
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoDevelopment Southern Africa (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0376-835X • E-ISSN: 1470-3637
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0376835x.2021.2003757
OpenAlexW3215090993
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas3
Referências citadas49

Cyberpsychological research suggests that interaction with and use of smartphones influences personal wellbeing and psychosocial development. Studies indicate that (a) the ways in which individuals manage their attachment to devices influences personal development, (b) greater smartphone attachment is associated with higher anxiety levels, and (c) personality differences might mediate this association. We investigated whether self-compassion (i.e. being kind and non-judgmental to oneself) might be such a mediating factor, and whether this mediational relationship differed between digital natives (n = 104, 18–25 years) and digital immigrants (n = 117, 30–60 years). Participants completed standardised scales measuring trait anxiety, self-compassion, and smartphone attachment/use. The mediational hypothesis was confirmed for digital natives only, suggesting that among these participants (who reported significantly higher anxiety levels) higher levels of self-compassion can provide a healthy buffer between psychological distress and unhealthy smartphone attachment. We conclude that programmatic self-compassion interventions could buffer negative developmental consequences of unhealthy smartphone attachment

Anxiety · Attachment theory · Developmental psychology · Distress · Mindfulness · Personality · Psychological intervention · Psychosocial · Psychotherapist · Self-compassion · Trait · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Clinical Psychology · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Psychology · Social Psychology