Examining the Link Between Problematic Smartphone Use and Substance Use Disorders Among College Students

Association Patterns Using Network Analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID15467998
AuthorsAmanda Severo Lins Vitta (0009-0008-8993-6652, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)), Wanderlei Abadio De Oliveira (0000-0002-3146-8197, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)), Lucio Garcia De Oliveira (0000-0001-9805-8347, Fundação do ABC), Laura Soares da Silva (0000-0003-2726-4842, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)), Évelin Moreira Freires (0009-0008-3754-5270, Fundação do ABC), Fernando Ferreira Semolini (0009-0001-9458-1111, Toronto Metropolitan University), Makilim Nunes Baptista (0000-0001-6519-254X, Universidade Federal de São Paulo), Claudio Romualdo (0000-0002-1611-3195, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)), Hyoun S Kim (0000-0002-0804-0256, Toronto Metropolitan University), Denise De Micheli (0000-0001-8546-4354, Universidade Federal de São Paulo), Adriana Scatena (0000-0002-4034-1251, Universidade Federal de São Paulo), André Luiz Monezi Andrade (0000-0003-0111-8935, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume22
Issue7
Pages973-973
Publication date2025-06-20
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph22070973
PMID40724040
OpenAlexW4411494773
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited12

This study examines the interplay between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and substance use disorders (SUDs) among Brazilian college students, also addressing associated emotional distress (e.g., depression, anxiety, and stress). A total of 3130 students (M_age = 23.6; SD_age = 5.34) participated in an online survey featuring validated measures for assessing PSU, alcohol and drug consumption, and emotional distress. Participants were categorized into problematic smartphone use (PSU) and non-problematic use (nPSU) groups. The prevalence of PSU was 46.9%, notably higher among female students, those lacking a religious affiliation, individuals living alone, and the unemployed. PSU individuals showed significantly elevated rates of alcohol, cannabis, and other illicit substance use, along with greater emotional distress. Network analysis revealed that weekly alcohol consumption and stress symptoms exhibited the highest centrality indices (e.g., stress with high betweenness; alcohol with strong expected influence), underscoring their key roles in connecting PSU and SUDs. These findings suggest that PSU and SUDs may share underlying emotional vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for integrated intervention strategies targeting both conditions concurrently

Anxiety · Association (psychology · Cannabis · Depression (economics · Distress · Psychiatry · Substance use · Clinical Psychology · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Medicine · Mental Health Research Topics · Psychology

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