Abstract
Based on the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological internet use and the risk buffering model, the current study explored how and when the sense of security reduces problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) among Chinese freshmen. Specifically, we investigated the underlying mechanism of PMPU by testing a moderated mediation model, in which relatedness needs satisfaction moderated the mediating role of negative attention bias on the relation between sense of security and PMPU. A sample of 458 freshmen in China (76.20% females), with a mean age of 19.58 years (SD = 1.03, range = 16–23), were surveyed using the sense of security scale, the attention to negative information subscale, the relatedness needs satisfaction subscale, and the mobile phone addiction index. Mediation analysis indicated the sense of security decreased freshmen’ PMPU by reducing negative attention bias. Moderated mediation analysis further demonstrated that high relatedness needs satisfaction ameliorated the adverse impact of negative attention bias on PMPU among freshmen, while low relatedness needs satisfaction sharpened the adverse impact of negative attention bias on PMPU among freshmen. This study highlights the mediating and moderating mechanisms linking the sense of security to PMPU. More importantly, it has prominent implications for the prevention and intervention of PMPU among freshmen.
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10 January 2024
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This work was supported by Henan Province Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project [2023BJY006], the General Project of Humanities and Social Sciences Research in Henan Province Universities [2024-ZZJH-299.], and the Social Science Research Project of Zhengzhou Federation of social sciences [1739].
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Author contributions [LiLi Ji] and [Xiaofei Chen] contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by [Yifan Yu], [Chaoran Chen], [Jiaojiao Wan] and [Yafei Zhang]. The first draft of the manuscript was written by [LiLi Ji], and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. [Yifan Yu], [Jiaojiao Wan] and [Yafei Zhang] checked and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. [Chaoran Chen] and [Yifan Yu] assist [LiLi Ji] to complete the revision of the manuscript. Lili Ji and Yifan Yu contributed equally to this work and share first authorship.
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Highlights
Sense of security is associated with freshmen’ PMPU.
Sense of security decreased freshmen’ PMPU via reducing negative attention bias.
High relatedness needs satisfaction attenuated the negative effect of sense of security acting indirectly on PMPU through negative attention bias.
The results have practical implications for the prevention and intervention of PMPU among freshmen.
The original version of this article was revised due to Retrospective Open Access cancellation.
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Ji, L., Yu, Y., Wan, J. et al. Sense of security and problematic mobile phone use among freshmen: the mediating role of negative attention bias and the moderating role of relatedness needs satisfaction. Curr Psychol 43, 12854–12868 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05496-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05496-y