Comparing Smartphone Addiction: The Prevalence, Predictors, and Negative Consequences in Hong Kong and Mainland China

Authors

  • Jingwen Liang School of Journalism and Communication, The Chinese University of Hong Kong http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8923-6794
  • Louis Leung Department of Journalism and Communication, Hong Kong Shue Yan University

Keywords:

smartphone addiction, procrastination, preference for solitude, impulsivity, smartphone use activity

Abstract

This study aimed to identify common and specific factors related to smartphone addiction by systematically comparing the prevalence, predictors, and improper behavioral outcomes of smartphone addiction among university students in two cities. Data were randomly gathered from 661 university students, of which 351 were in Hong Kong and 310 were in Guangzhou in mainland China. The findings indicated that there was no significant difference in the prevalence of smartphone addiction between the two samples. In addition, the comparison of the predictors of smartphone addiction showed similar significant psychological traits (procrastination and urgency) in both regions. The findings also indicated that smartphone addiction might be associated with distinct habits of media use. Entertainment and information seeking behaviors were the unique significant predictors among the Hong Kong students, whereas social interaction was an extremely robust factor among the Guangzhou students. At last, in comparing the predictors of improper use of smartphone, addiction symptoms (craving and complaints) and utility assisting use of smartphone were significant factors for students in both regions.

Author Biography

Louis Leung, Department of Journalism and Communication, Hong Kong Shue Yan University

Department of Journalism and Communication, Hong Kong Shue Yan University (louiswcleung@gmail.com)

Downloads

Published

2018-12-31

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2018): The Journal of Social Media in Society

Section

Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).