Factors that Influence Mobile Phone Addiction among Chinese Middle School Students
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Abstract
In recent years, the widespread use of mobile phones has significantly impacted daily life, particularly among younger populations. In China, the increasing reliance of middle school students on mobile phones has raised concerns about addiction and its adverse effects on academic performance, social interactions, and mental health. Various psychological, social, and environmental factors contribute to this addiction, emphasizing the need for effective interventions. This study aimed to investigate: 1) factors correlating with mobile phone addiction among Chinese middle school students and 2) factors influencing mobile phone addiction. The study involved 1,342 middle school students from Chongqing Agricultural School, using a scale with discrimination ranging from 0.22 to 0.80 and a reliability coefficient of 0.89. Statistical analyses included Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients and multiple regression analyses.
The research results were found as follows: 1) General factors, family factors, and mobile phone use factors correlated to mobile phone addiction with statistical significance of .05 level. 2) General factors, family factors, and mobile phone use factors predicted the power of mobile phone addiction was significant at the .05 level at 29.00 percent as follows: sex (1) age (
2) GPA 0.00-1.50 (
3) GPA 1.51-2.50 (
4) GPA 2.51-3.50 (
5) eldest child (
7) middle child (
8) youngest child (
9) authoritarian (
11) authoritative (
12) permissive (
13) reflect personality (
17) and lower 1 hours (
20) were increased, affecting mobile phone addiction, On the other hand, interpersonal communication needs (
15) kill time (
16) entertainment (
18) and 1-2 hours (
21) were decreased, affecting mobile phone addiction. This study offers insights for educators and parents to combat mobile phone addiction among middle school students. It suggests integrating findings into educational principles, implementing practical measures for student well-being and academic success, and promoting healthy tech habits at home through tailored interventions, academic support, parenting classes, and awareness campaigns on responsible phone use.
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