THE PREDICTIVE ROLE OF SELF-CONTROL IN SMARTPHONE ADDICTION AND LONELINESS AMONG ADULT SMARTPHONE USERS

Abstract

The research aimed to investigate the extent to which human beings are influenced by some type of self-regulation or self-control that relates to their use of technology. The context of this evaluation was looking at the relationship between self-control and the use of a technology, specifically a cellphone (in this instance) through the lens of digital life and how people interact with that technology. Further, how the self-control influence the loneliness in the adults. The researchers chose cross-sectional survey research in order to assess the variables. The sample size of participants were n=200 where males were n=99 and females n=101 using convenient sampling approach. The participant’s responded to (three) distinct assessments measuring their levels of self-control, addiction to their cellphones, and loneliness. The results of the analysis of the data obtained through participants' responses found that self-control was the positive significant predictor of smartphone addiction (r = .53, p < .01) and feelings of loneliness also showed significant positive correlation (r = .35, p < .01). In contrast to the traditional perspective, the findings indicated that individuals who reported higher levels of self-control, tended to report higher levels of either smartphone addiction or feelings of loneliness. Furthermore, a linear regression analysis determined that self-control accounted for 28% of the variance in smartphone addiction (beta = .53, p < .001) and 13% of the variance in loneliness (beta = .35, p < .001). Overall, the researchers concluded that individuals with a high level of self-control, are potentially overly-structured in their behaviors and as a result, could experience greater levels of loneliness from a lack of social contact as well as a preoccupation with technology.