ISSN 0439-755X
CN 11-1911/B

Acta Psychologica Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (6): 745-758.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00745

• Reports of Empirical Studies • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Relationship between adolescents’ smartphone stress and mental health: Based on the multiverse-style analysis and intensive longitudinal method

HUANG Shunsen1, LAI Xiaoxiong1,2, ZHANG Cai3, ZHAO Xinmei1, DAI Xinran1, QI Mengdi1, WANG Huanlei1, WANG Wenrong4, WANG Yun1,*()   

  1. 1State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    2Institute of Digital Education, China National Academy of Educational Sciences, Beijing 100088, China
    3Collaborative Innovation Centre of Assessment for Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    4Zhongmu Teaching and Research Centre, Zhengzhou 451450, China
  • Received:2023-04-10 Published:2024-06-25 Online:2024-04-08
  • Contact: WANG Yun E-mail:wangyun@bnu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Major Program of the National Social Science Fund of China(20&ZD153)

Abstract:

To explore the relationship and mechanisms between smartphone stress and adolescent mental health, Study 1 examined the robust relationship between smartphone stress and adolescent mental health in a sample of 74,182 adolescents using multiverse-style analysis; Study 2 conducted an intensive longitudinal survey over 35 days with 507 adolescents to investigate the mechanisms through which smartphone stress affects their mental health. Study 1 found that more than half of the adolescents reported experiencing stress from smartphones, and there was a robust negative correlation between smartphone stress and mental health, deserving attention from researchers and society. Study 2 identified that intensity/fluctuation of negative emotions and rumination mediate the effect between smartphone stress and mental health, with differences in how these factors affect positive or negative dimensions of mental health. This research extended, for the first time, the “stress-cognition/emotion” theory and the “media use-digital stress-mental health” model in depth and breadth, and provided new perspectives and a basis for promoting youth’s mental health development.

Key words: Smartphone Stress, Digital Stress, Mental Health, Rumination, Negative Emotions