Abstract
The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship of social anxiety, self-concept clarity, self-esteem and adolescents’ mobile phone dependence, and aimed to clarify the role of self-concept clarity and self-esteem in social anxiety and adolescents’ mobile phone dependence. It was hypothesized that social anxiety would affect the adolescents’ mobile phone dependence through the mediating role of self-concept clarity and self-esteem. A total of 1210 adolescents, in which 567 (47.2%) boys and 634 (52.8%) girls, completed the Self-rating Questionnaire for Adolescent Problematic Mobile Phone Use, Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents, Self-concept Clarity Scale, and Self-esteem Scale. Results revealed that social anxiety significantly predicted adolescents’ mobile phone dependence not only directly, but also through the mediation of self-concept clarity, the mediation of self-esteem, and serial mediation of self-concept clarity and self-esteem. Findings of the present study can clarify how social anxiety affects adolescents’ mobile phone dependence and enrich theories about mobile phone dependence, which also can help to establish the intervention or protection of adolescents’ mobile phone dependence.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The datasets used or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
References
Aritzeta, A., Soroa, G., Balluerka, N., Muela, A., Gorostiaga, A., & Aliri, J. (2017). Reducing Anxiety and Improving Academic Performance Through a Biofeedback Relaxation Training Program. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 42(3), 193–202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-017-9367-z.
Błażek, M., & Besta, T. (2012). Self-concept clarity and religious orientations: Prediction of purpose in life and self-esteem. Journal of Religion and Health, 51(3), 947–960. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-010-9407-y.
Campbell, J. D., Trapnell, P. D., Heine, S. J., Katz, I. M., Lavallee, L. F., & Lehman, D. R. (1996). Self-concept clarity: Measurement, personality correlates, and cultural boundaries. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(1), 141–156. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.70.1.141.
Campbell, W. K., & Sedikides, C. (1999). Self-threat magnifies the self-serving bias: A meta-analytic integration. Review of General Psychology, 3(1), 23–43. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.3.1.23.
China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC). (2020). The 45th China statistical report on internet development. http://cnnic.cn/hlwfzyj/hlwxzbg/hlwtjbg/202004/P020200428399188064169.pdf. Accessed 1 Oct 2020.
Davis, R. A. (2001). A cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use. Computers in Human Behavior, 17(2), 187–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0747-5632(00)00041-8.
Desjarlais, M., & Willoughby, T. (2010). A longitudinal study of the relation between adolescent boys’ and girls’ computer use with friends and friendship quality: Support for the social compensation or the rich-get-richer hypothesis? Computers in Human Behavior, 26(5), 896–905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2010.02.004.
Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., & Lampe, C. (2007). The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:” Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(4), 1143–1168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x.
Enez Darcin, A., Kose, S., Noyan, C. O., Nurmedov, S., Yılmaz, O., & Dilbaz, N. (2016). Smartphone addiction and its relationship with social anxiety and loneliness. Behaviour & Information Technology, 35(7), 520–525. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929x.2016.1158319.
Erceg-Hurn, D. M., & Mirosevich, V. M. (2008). Modern robust statistical methods: An easy way to maximize the accuracy and power of your research. American Psychologist, 63(7), 591–601. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.63.7.591.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218–226. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.56.3.218.
Gao, T., Li, J., Zhang, H., Gao, J., Kong, Y., Hu, Y., & Mei, S. (2018). The influence of alexithymia on mobile phone addiction: The role of depression, anxiety and stress. Journal of Affective Disorders, 225, 761–766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.020.
Hayes, A. F. (2013). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis. Journal of Educational Measurement., 51, 335–337. https://doi.org/10.1111/jedm.12050.
He, J. B., Chen, C. R., He, S. Q., & Zhou, Z. K. (2014). Is there lower social anxiety level in online interaction? Advances in Psychological Science., 22(2), 288–294. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1042.2014.00288.
Hong, F. Y., Chiu, S. I., & Huang, D. H. (2012). A model of the relationship between psychological characteristics, mobile phone addiction and use of mobile phones by Taiwanese university female students. Computers in Human Behavior, 28(6), 2152–2159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.06.020.
Hulme, N., Hirsch, C., & Stopa, L. (2012). Images of the self and self-esteem: Do positive self-images improve self-esteem in social anxiety? Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Social Anxiety, 41(2), 163–173. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2012.664557.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU). (2019). https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx. Accessed 10 Oct 2020.
Jin, S. H., Wu, Y. F., Guo, Y. F., & Zhang, L. (2015). Adolescents’ Self-concept affects internet addiction: Moderating effect of negative online experience and school type. Journal of Psychological Science, 38(5), 1103–1108. https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.2015.05.012.
Kernis, M. H. (2003). TARGET ARTICLE: Toward a conceptualization of optimal self-esteem. Psychological Inquiry, 14(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1401_01.
Kim, E., & Koh, E. (2018). Avoidant attachment and smartphone addiction in college students: The mediating effects of anxiety and self-esteem. Computers in Human Behavior, 84, 264–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.02.037.
Kong, F., Qin, J., Huang, B., Zhang, H., & Lei, L. (2020). The effect of social anxiety on mobile phone dependence among Chinese adolescents: A moderated mediation model. Children and Youth Services Review, 108, 104517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104517.
La Greca, A. M., & Lopez, N. (1998). Social anxiety among adolescents: Linkages with peer relations and friendships. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 26(2), 83–94. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1022684520514.
Lannoy, S., Chatard, A., Selimbegovic, L., Tello, N., Van der Linden, M., Heeren, A., & Billieux, J. (2020). Too good to be cautious: High implicit self-esteem predicts self-reported dangerous mobile phone use. Computers in Human Behavior, 103, 208–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.09.018.
Li, F., Zha, Y. Y., Liang, H. Y., Yang, C., & Zheng, X. (2017). Relationship among self-concept clarity, social support, self-esteem and subjective well-being in secondary vocational school students. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 31(11), 896–901. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1000-6729.2017.11.012.
Liu, G. Z., Pan, Y. G., Li, W. W., Meng, Y. Y., & Zhang, D. J. (2017). Effect of self-esteem on social anxiety in adolescents: The mediating role of self-concept clarity. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 25(1), 151–154. https://doi.org/10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2017.01.033.
Maxwell, J. P. (1989). Mediation in the schools: Self-regulation, self-esteem, and self-discipline. Mediation Quarterly, 7(2), 149–155. https://doi.org/10.1002/crq.3900070206.
Mei, S. L., Chai, J. X., & Guo, J. H. (2015). Subjective well-being and mobile phone dependence Internet addiction of adolescent: Mediating role of self-esteem and self-control. Psychological Dependence and Education, 31(5), 603–609. https://doi.org/10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2015.05.12.
Misra, S., Cheng, L., Genevie, J., & Yuan, M. (2014). The iPhone Effect: The quality of in-person social interactions in the presence of mobile devices. Environment and Behavior, 48(2), 275–298. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916514539755.
Niu, G. F., Sun, X. J., Zhou, Z. K., Tian, Y., Liu, Q. Q., & Lian, S. L. (2016). The effect of adolescents’ social networking site use on self-concept clarity: The mediating role of social comparison. Journal of Psychological Science, 39(1), 97–102. https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20160115.
Panzer, A., Viljoen, M., & Roos, J. L. (2007). The neurobiological basis of fear: A concise review. African Psychiatry Review, 10(2), 71–75. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234117904. Accessed 10 Oct 2020.
Park, W. K. (2005) Mobile Phone Addiction. In: Mobile Communications. Computer Supported Cooperative Work, 31. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-84628-248-9_17
Rapee, R. M., & Heimberg, R. G. (1997). A cognitive-behavioral model of anxiety in social phobia. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 35(8), 741–756. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0005-7967(97)00022-3.
Ritchie, T. D., Sedikides, C., Wildschut, T., Arndt, J., & Gidron, Y. (2011). Self-concept clarity mediates the relation between stress and subjective well-being. Self and Identity, 10(4), 493–508. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2010.493066.
Ritter, V., Ertel, C., Beil, K., Steffens, M. C., & Stangier, U. (2013). In the presence of social threat: Implicit and explicit self-esteem in social anxiety disorder. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 37(6), 1101–1109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-013-9553-0.
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Schlenker, B. R., & Leary, M. R. (1982). Social anxiety and self-presentation: A conceptualization model. Psychological Bulletin, 92(3), 641–669. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.92.3.641.
Steinberg, L. (2005). Cognitive and affective development in adolescence. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 9(2), 69–74.
Tao, S. M., Fu, J. L., Wang, H., Hao, J. H., & Tao, F. B. (2013). Development of self-rating questionnaire for adolescent problematic mobile phone use and the psychometric evaluation in undergraduates. Chinese Journal of School Health, 34(1), 26–29. https://doi.org/10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2013.01.010.
Tian, L. M. (2006). Shortcoming and merits of Chinese version of Rosenberg (1965) self-esteem scale. Psychological Exploration, 26(2), 88–91. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1003-5184.2006.02.020.
Tong, Y. T., Qiao, X. W., Lian, S. L., & Zhang, M. M., 2017. Upward social comparison in social network site and depression: Mediating of social anxiety. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 25(3), 498–501. https://doi.org/10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2017.03.022.
Vacaru, M. A., Shepherd, R. M., & Sheridan, J. (2014). New Zealand Youth and Their Relationships with Mobile Phone Technology. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 12(5), 572–584. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-014-9488-z.
Vallacher, R. R., Van Geert, P., & Nowak, A. (2015). The Intrinsic Dynamics of Psychological Process. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 24(1), 58–64. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721414551571.
Van Dijk, Marloes P. A, Branje, S., Keijsers, L., Hawk, S. T., Hale, W. W., & Meeus, W. (2013m 2014). Self-concept clarity across adolescence: Longitudinal associations with open communication with parents and internalizing symptoms. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43(11), 1861–1876. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-013-0055-x.
Wilson, J. K., & Rapee, R. M. (2006). Self-concept certainty in social phobia. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(1), 113–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.01.006.
Wong, A. E., Vallacher, R. R., & Nowak, A. (2016). Intrinsic dynamics of state self-esteem: The role of self-concept clarity. Personality and Individual Differences, 100, 167–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.05.024.
Wu, X., Wei, D. T., Zhang, M., Qiu, J., & Zhao, Y. F. (2017). Self-concept clarity is predicted by amygdala: Evidence from a VBM study. Chinese Science Bulletin, 62(13), 1377–1385 CNKI:SUN:KXTB.0.2017-13-008.
Xiao, C. H., & Huang, X. T. (2011). Research on the explicit and implicit self-esteem of individuals with social phobia. Journal of Psychological Science, 34(2), 289–292. https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.2011.02.019.
Yellowlees, P. M., & Marks, S. (2007). Problematic internet use or internet addiction? Computers in Human Behavior, 23(3), 1447–1453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2005.05.004.
Yen, C., Tang, T., Yen, J., Lin, H., Huang, C., Liu, S., & Ko, C. (2009, 2008). Symptoms of problematic cellular phone use, functional impairment and its association with depression among adolescents in southern taiwan. Journal of Adolescence (London, England.), 32(4), 863–873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2008.10.006.
Zhou, H., & Long, L. R. (2004). Statistical Remedies for Common Method Biases. Advances in Psychological Science, 12(6), 942–942. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1671-3710.2004.06.018.
Funding
This work was supported by The Ministry of Education of Humanities and Social Science project (17YJC190008), the Research Program Funds of the Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality at Beijing Normal University (KJ02252018–0104), fund for building world-class universities (disciplines) of Renmin University of China (RUCPSY0001) and Fundamental Research Funds of Central China Normal University (CCNU19QN042). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
KF conceptualized and executed the study, analyzed the data, and led the writing of the manuscript. LN and ZH analyzed the data and wrote the paper. SX and ZY reviewed the manuscript content. All authors contributed to the development of this manuscript, reviewed drafts, and approved the final version.
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval
The procedures for human participants involved in this study are consistent with the ethical standards of the authors’ institution.
Consent to Participants
Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.
Consent for Publication
All authors agreed to public this manuscript.
Code Availability
The code used for analyzing data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kong, F., Lan, N., Zhang, H. et al. How does social anxiety affect Mobile phone dependence in adolescents? The mediating role of self-concept clarity and self-esteem. Curr Psychol 41, 8070–8077 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01262-6
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01262-6