Self-esteem, life satisfaction and anxiety as predictors of problematic cell phone use

Abstract

While cell phone use has made connecting to the world extremely easy and convenient through texting. Facetime, and social networking, it is also inhibiting individuals in ways they may not be aware of. Cell phones have been linked to dangerous and problematic behaviors. Problematic cell phone use is the inability to control one’s cell phone use to the point where it starts to have negative impact on daily life. This study explores how self-esteem, life satisfaction and anxiety are associated with problematic cell use among a sample of undergraduate college students enrolled in the American College of Greece. Hypothesis 1 proposed a significant negative relationship between self-esteem and problematic cell phone use. Hypothesis 2 proposed a significant negative relationship between life satisfaction and problematic cell phone us. Hypothesis 3 proposed a significant positive relationship between anxiety and problematic cell phone use. One hundred and thirty-three undergraduate college students at American College of Greece (F/M: 93/40) were recruited. Four instruments were used in the collection of data; Rosenberg’s Self Esteem Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Problematic Mobile Phone Use Questionnaire. Linear regression analysis were used to examines the relationship between variables. Results indicated that self-esteem has a moderate relationship with problematic cell phone use; life satisfaction and anxiety did not show a significant relationship with problematic cell phone use; females scored higher than males on the problematic mobile phone use questionnaire and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Furthermore, with respect to the categories of the participants’ first preference cell phone use, participants who preferred using their cell phones for communication and browsing scored lower on the problematic mobile phone use questionnaire than participants who preferred using their cell phones for ‘other activities”. These results have important implications for social development of youth, preventative measures and intervention. The results suggest that people with low self-esteem are likely to develop problematic cell phone use. Therefore, preventative measures should target such people. I presume that problematic cell phone use may be ameliorated by psychological intervention focusing on low self-esteem.