Linking psychological attributes to addiction and improper use of the mobile phone among adolescents in Hong Kong

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to (1) identify addiction symptoms that are uniquely associated with mobile phone use among adolescents in Hong Kong; (2) examine how demographics and psychological attributes (such as leisure boredom, sensation seeking, and self‐esteem) of individuals are related to the addiction symptoms; and (3) explore how these attributes, mobile phone addiction symptoms, and social capital can predict improper use of the mobile phone. Data were gathered from a probability sample of 402 teenagers and young adults aged 14–20 in Hong Kong. Exploratory factor analysis identified four addiction symptoms: “losing control and receiving complaints,” “anxiety and craving,” “withdrawal/escape,” and “productivity loss.” Results show that the higher one scored on leisure boredom and sensation seeking, the higher the likelihood one was addicted. Conversely, subjects who scored high on self‐esteem demonstrated less of such tendency. As hypothesized, subjects who scored low on self‐esteem but high on sensation seeking reported the most improper use of the mobile phone (especially in snapping pictures stealthily when nobody notices).