Self-Compassion as a Moderator Between Anxiety and Depressive Symptomatology and Problematic Use of the Internet and Smartphones

Bibliographic Data

ID13668186
AuthorsNerea Etxaburu (0000-0002-3598-3751, Universidad de Deusto, corresponding author), Gema Aonso‐diego (0000-0001-8490-2658, Universidad de Deusto), Gema Aonso-Diego Aonso-Diego (Universidad de Deusto), Ana Estévez (0000-0003-0314-7086, Universidad de Deusto)
Year2025
Pages332941251410060-332941251410060
Publication date2025-12-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychological Reports (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-2941 • E-ISSN: 1558-691X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00332941251410060
PMID41460098
OpenAlexW7117454441
LanguageEN
References cited55

Self-compassion is a psychological construct associated with enhanced well-being, which, to a lesser extent, has been examined in relation to addictive behaviors. The present study aims to: (1) examine gender differences in self-compassion, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and problematic Internet and smartphone use; (2) analyze the relationships among these variables; and (3) determine whether self-compassion moderates the association between anxiety and depressive symptomatology and problematic Internet and smartphone use. The sample consisted of 953 Spanish secondary school students aged 13 to 18 years ( M = 15.42, SD = 1.17; 55.0% females). Significant gender differences were found in all study variables except problematic Internet use, with females reporting higher levels of anxiety, depression, and problematic smartphone use, and males scoring higher in self-compassion. Moderation analyses revealed that depression and anxiety were positively associated with both problematic Internet smartphone use, while self-compassion showed negative associations with both outcomes. Significant interactions were observed, with stronger positive associations between anxiety and depression and both problematic Internet and smartphone use at higher levels of self-compassion. Our results underscore that association between depressive and anxiety symptoms and problematic Internet and smartphone use in adolescents varied across levels of self-compassion, supporting its consideration in interventions targeting behavioral addictions

Anxiety · Association (psychology · Construct (python library · Depression (economics · Depressive symptoms · Moderation · Psychological intervention · The Internet · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions

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