Skip to main content
Top
Published in: International Journal of Public Health 2/2015

01-02-2015 | Original Article

Problematic mobile phone use in adolescents: derivation of a short scale MPPUS-10

Authors: Milena Foerster, Katharina Roser, Anna Schoeni, Martin Röösli

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 2/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Objectives

Our aim was to derive a short version of the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale (MPPUS) using data from 412 adolescents of the Swiss HERMES (Health Effects Related to Mobile phonE use in adolescentS) cohort.

Methods

A German version of the original MPPUS consisting of 27 items was shortened by principal component analysis (PCA) using baseline data collected in 2012. For confirmation, the PCA was carried out again with follow-up data 1 year later.

Results

PCA revealed four factors related to symptoms of addiction (Loss of Control, Withdrawal, Negative Life Consequences and Craving) and a fifth factor reflecting the social component of mobile phone use (Peer Dependence). The shortened scale (MPPUS-10) highly reflects the original MPPUS (Kendalls’ Tau: 0.80 with 90% concordant pairs). Internal consistency of MPPUS-10 was good with Cronbach’s alpha: 0.85. The results were confirmed using the follow-up data.

Conclusions

The MPPUS-10 is a suitable instrument for research in adolescents. It will help to further clarify the definition of problematic mobile phone use in adolescents and explore similarities and differences to other technological addictions.
Literature
go back to reference Augner C, Hacker GW (2012) Associations between problematic mobile phone use and psychological parameters in young adults. Int J Public Health 57:437–441CrossRefPubMed Augner C, Hacker GW (2012) Associations between problematic mobile phone use and psychological parameters in young adults. Int J Public Health 57:437–441CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Bianchi A, Phillips JG (2005) Psychological predictors of problem mobile phone use. CyberPsychol Behav 8:39–51CrossRefPubMed Bianchi A, Phillips JG (2005) Psychological predictors of problem mobile phone use. CyberPsychol Behav 8:39–51CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Billieux J, Van der Linden M, d’Acremont M, Ceschi G, Zermatten A (2007) Does impulsivity relate to perceived dependence on and actual use of the mobile phone? Appl Cogn Psychol 21:527–537CrossRef Billieux J, Van der Linden M, d’Acremont M, Ceschi G, Zermatten A (2007) Does impulsivity relate to perceived dependence on and actual use of the mobile phone? Appl Cogn Psychol 21:527–537CrossRef
go back to reference Boulos MN, Wheeler S, Tavares C, Jones R (2011) How smartphones are changing the face of mobile and participatory healthcare: an overview, with example from eCAALYX. Biomed Eng Online 10:24CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed Boulos MN, Wheeler S, Tavares C, Jones R (2011) How smartphones are changing the face of mobile and participatory healthcare: an overview, with example from eCAALYX. Biomed Eng Online 10:24CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed
go back to reference Butt S, Phillips JG (2008) Personality and self reported mobile phone use. Comput Hum Behav 24:346–360CrossRef Butt S, Phillips JG (2008) Personality and self reported mobile phone use. Comput Hum Behav 24:346–360CrossRef
go back to reference Campbell MA (2005) The impact of the mobile phone on young people’s social life. Paper presented at the Social Change in the 21st Century Conference, Brisbane Campbell MA (2005) The impact of the mobile phone on young people’s social life. Paper presented at the Social Change in the 21st Century Conference, Brisbane
go back to reference Canan F (2013) The relationship of affective temperament and emotional-behavioral difficulties to internet addiction in turkish teenagers. ISRN psychiatry. doi:10.1155/2013/961734 Canan F (2013) The relationship of affective temperament and emotional-behavioral difficulties to internet addiction in turkish teenagers. ISRN psychiatry. doi:10.​1155/​2013/​961734
go back to reference Cheung LM, Wong WS (2011) The effects of insomnia and internet addiction on depression in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents: an exploratory cross-sectional analysis. J Sleep Res 20:311–317CrossRefPubMed Cheung LM, Wong WS (2011) The effects of insomnia and internet addiction on depression in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents: an exploratory cross-sectional analysis. J Sleep Res 20:311–317CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Gardner M, Steinberg L (2005) Peer influence on risk taking, risk preference, and risky decision making in adolescence and adulthood: an experimental study. Dev Psychol 41:625–635CrossRefPubMed Gardner M, Steinberg L (2005) Peer influence on risk taking, risk preference, and risky decision making in adolescence and adulthood: an experimental study. Dev Psychol 41:625–635CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Ha JH, Chin B, Park D-H, Ryu S-H, Yu J (2008) Characteristics of excessive cellular phone use in Korean adolescents. CyberPsychol Behav 11:783–784CrossRefPubMed Ha JH, Chin B, Park D-H, Ryu S-H, Yu J (2008) Characteristics of excessive cellular phone use in Korean adolescents. CyberPsychol Behav 11:783–784CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Hilgard J, Engelhardt CR, Bartholow BD (2013) Individual differences in motives, preferences, and pathology in video games: the gaming attitudes, motives, and experiences scales (GAMES). Frontiers in psychology 4. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00608 Hilgard J, Engelhardt CR, Bartholow BD (2013) Individual differences in motives, preferences, and pathology in video games: the gaming attitudes, motives, and experiences scales (GAMES). Frontiers in psychology 4. doi:10.​3389/​fpsyg.​2013.​00608
go back to reference ITU (2014) The World in 2014: ICT Facts and Figures. International Telecommunication Union, Geneva ITU (2014) The World in 2014: ICT Facts and Figures. International Telecommunication Union, Geneva
go back to reference Izdebski P, Kotyśko M (2013) Personality variables and depression as determinants of problematic use of mobile phones in Poland. Polish J Appl Psychol 11:111–126 Izdebski P, Kotyśko M (2013) Personality variables and depression as determinants of problematic use of mobile phones in Poland. Polish J Appl Psychol 11:111–126
go back to reference Jenaro C, Flores N, Gómez-Vela M, González-Gil F, Caballo C (2007) Problematic internet and cell-phone use: Psychological, behavioral, and health correlates. Addict Res Theory 15:309–320CrossRef Jenaro C, Flores N, Gómez-Vela M, González-Gil F, Caballo C (2007) Problematic internet and cell-phone use: Psychological, behavioral, and health correlates. Addict Res Theory 15:309–320CrossRef
go back to reference Kowall B, Breckenkamp J, Blettner M, Schlehofer B, Schüz J, Berg-Beckhoff G (2012) Determinants and stability over time of perception of health risks related to mobile phone base stations. Int J Public Health 57:735–743CrossRefPubMed Kowall B, Breckenkamp J, Blettner M, Schlehofer B, Schüz J, Berg-Beckhoff G (2012) Determinants and stability over time of perception of health risks related to mobile phone base stations. Int J Public Health 57:735–743CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Leung L (2008) Linking psychological attributes to addiction and improper use of the mobile phone among adolescents in Hong Kong. J Child Media 2:93–113CrossRef Leung L (2008) Linking psychological attributes to addiction and improper use of the mobile phone among adolescents in Hong Kong. J Child Media 2:93–113CrossRef
go back to reference Lopez-Fernandez O, Honrubia-Serrano M, Freixa-Blanxart M (2011) Spanish adaptation of the “Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale” for adolescent population. Adicciones 24:123–130 Lopez-Fernandez O, Honrubia-Serrano M, Freixa-Blanxart M (2011) Spanish adaptation of the “Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale” for adolescent population. Adicciones 24:123–130
go back to reference Lopez-Fernandez O, Honrubia-Serrano L, Freixa-Blanxart M, Gibson W (2014) Prevalence of Problematic Mobile Phone Use in British Adolescents. Cyberpsychol Behav Social Netw 17:91–98CrossRef Lopez-Fernandez O, Honrubia-Serrano L, Freixa-Blanxart M, Gibson W (2014) Prevalence of Problematic Mobile Phone Use in British Adolescents. Cyberpsychol Behav Social Netw 17:91–98CrossRef
go back to reference Martinotti G et al (2011) Problematic mobile phone use in adolescence: a cross-sectional study. J Public Health 19:545–551CrossRef Martinotti G et al (2011) Problematic mobile phone use in adolescence: a cross-sectional study. J Public Health 19:545–551CrossRef
go back to reference Morgan C, Cotten SR (2003) The relationship between internet activities and depressive symptoms in a sample of college freshmen. CyberPsychol Behav 6:133–142CrossRefPubMed Morgan C, Cotten SR (2003) The relationship between internet activities and depressive symptoms in a sample of college freshmen. CyberPsychol Behav 6:133–142CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Nunnally JC, Bernstein IH, Berge JMt (1967) Psychometric theory vol 226. McGraw-Hill, New York Nunnally JC, Bernstein IH, Berge JMt (1967) Psychometric theory vol 226. McGraw-Hill, New York
go back to reference Park WK (2005) Mobile phone addiction. In: Mobile Communications. Springer, pp 253-272 Park WK (2005) Mobile phone addiction. In: Mobile Communications. Springer, pp 253-272
go back to reference Park B-W, Lee KC (2011) The effect of users’ characteristics and experiential factors on the compulsive usage of the smartphone. In: Ubiquitous computing and multimedia applications. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 438–446 Park B-W, Lee KC (2011) The effect of users’ characteristics and experiential factors on the compulsive usage of the smartphone. In: Ubiquitous computing and multimedia applications. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 438–446
go back to reference Reid DJ, Reid FJ (2007) Text or talk? Social anxiety, loneliness, and divergent preferences for cell phone use. CyberPsychol Behav 10:424–435CrossRefPubMed Reid DJ, Reid FJ (2007) Text or talk? Social anxiety, loneliness, and divergent preferences for cell phone use. CyberPsychol Behav 10:424–435CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Richardson MH (2012) Increased levels of anxiety revealing characteristics of social phobia elucidated by smartphone use. University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Richardson MH (2012) Increased levels of anxiety revealing characteristics of social phobia elucidated by smartphone use. University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida
go back to reference Roser K, Schoeni A, Foerster M, Röösli M, Problematic mobile phone use: associations with personal factors, health and behaviour in Swiss adolescents (submitted) Roser K, Schoeni A, Foerster M, Röösli M, Problematic mobile phone use: associations with personal factors, health and behaviour in Swiss adolescents (submitted)
go back to reference Salehan M, Negahban A (2013) Social networking on smartphones: When mobile phones become addictive. Comput Hum Behav 29:2632–2639CrossRef Salehan M, Negahban A (2013) Social networking on smartphones: When mobile phones become addictive. Comput Hum Behav 29:2632–2639CrossRef
go back to reference Schreier N, Huss A, Röösli M (2006) The prevalence of symptoms attributed to electromagnetic field exposure: a cross-sectional representative survey in Switzerland. Sozial-und Präventivmedizin 51:202–209CrossRefPubMed Schreier N, Huss A, Röösli M (2006) The prevalence of symptoms attributed to electromagnetic field exposure: a cross-sectional representative survey in Switzerland. Sozial-und Präventivmedizin 51:202–209CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Song I, Larose R, Eastin MS, Lin CA (2004) Internet gratifications and Internet addiction: on the uses and abuses of new media. CyberPsychol Behav 7:384–394CrossRefPubMed Song I, Larose R, Eastin MS, Lin CA (2004) Internet gratifications and Internet addiction: on the uses and abuses of new media. CyberPsychol Behav 7:384–394CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Srivastava L (2005) Mobile phones and the evolution of social behaviour. Behavi Inf Technol 24:111–129CrossRef Srivastava L (2005) Mobile phones and the evolution of social behaviour. Behavi Inf Technol 24:111–129CrossRef
go back to reference Steinberg L, Silverberg SB (1986) The vicissitudes of autonomy in early adolescence. Child Dev 57:841–851 Steinberg L, Silverberg SB (1986) The vicissitudes of autonomy in early adolescence. Child Dev 57:841–851
go back to reference Thomée S, Härenstam A, Hagberg M (2011) Mobile phone use and stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression among young adults-a prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health 11:66CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed Thomée S, Härenstam A, Hagberg M (2011) Mobile phone use and stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression among young adults-a prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health 11:66CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed
go back to reference Walsh SP, White KM, Young RM (2007) Young and connected: Psychological influences of mobile phone use amongst Australian youth. In: Goggin G, Hjorth L (eds) Proceedings Mobile Media 2007. University of Sydney, Sydney, pp 125–134 Walsh SP, White KM, Young RM (2007) Young and connected: Psychological influences of mobile phone use amongst Australian youth. In: Goggin G, Hjorth L (eds) Proceedings Mobile Media 2007. University of Sydney, Sydney, pp 125–134
go back to reference Walsh SP, White KM, Young RM (2009) The phone connection: A qualitative exploration of how belongingness and social identification relate to mobile phone use amongst Australian youth. J Commun Appl Social Psychol 19:225–240CrossRef Walsh SP, White KM, Young RM (2009) The phone connection: A qualitative exploration of how belongingness and social identification relate to mobile phone use amongst Australian youth. J Commun Appl Social Psychol 19:225–240CrossRef
go back to reference Willemse I, Suess D, Waller G (2014) JAMES-Studie. Jugend, Aktivität, Medien—Erhebung Schweiz. Factsheet Befunde 2014. Zürcher Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft, Zürich Willemse I, Suess D, Waller G (2014) JAMES-Studie. Jugend, Aktivität, Medien—Erhebung Schweiz. Factsheet Befunde 2014. Zürcher Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft, Zürich
Metadata
Title
Problematic mobile phone use in adolescents: derivation of a short scale MPPUS-10
Authors
Milena Foerster
Katharina Roser
Anna Schoeni
Martin Röösli
Publication date
01-02-2015
Publisher
Springer Basel
Published in
International Journal of Public Health / Issue 2/2015
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0660-4

Other articles of this Issue 2/2015

International Journal of Public Health 2/2015 Go to the issue