Mindfulness mediates the longitudinal associations of problematic smartphone use with psychological, social, and cognitive adjustment

Objectives: Smartphones have become an indispensable tool for many individuals. However, how and why the use of smartphones may be linked to individual adjustment remains underexplored, especially among non-students. This study examined the longitudinal associations of problematic smartphone use with depressive symptoms, social maladjustment, and cognitive problems and whether mindfulness mediated such associations in a community sample of Chinese women (87% aged between 31 and 50 years). 

Method: On two occasions separated by about 6 months, questionnaire data were collected from 236 Chinese women with kindergarten-aged children residing in Hong Kong, China. Women rated their problematic use of smartphones, depressive symptoms, social maladjustment, cognitive problems, as well as their mindfulness. 

Results: Path analyses indicated that problematic smartphone use was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms, social maladjustment, and cognitive problems over time. Moreover, such associations were mediated by a decrease in mindfulness over time. 

Conclusions: Theoretically, findings highlighted the potential role of mindfulness in understanding the adjustment implications of smartphone use. Practically, findings pointed to the possible utility of targeting smartphone use and mindfulness as a means to promote the well-being of Chinese women. 

Preregistration: This study had not been preregistered. Copyright © 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.