Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Mobile phone problem use and depressive symptoms: the mediating role of social support and attitude to aging among Chinese older adults

Authors: Linlin Ding, Zhihan Li, Hao Jiang, Xiaona Zhang, Zhenfang Xiong, Xinhong Zhu

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2024

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Little is known about mobile phone problem use (MPPU) among older adults. This study investigated critical factors affecting MPPU and filled the gap between MPPU and depressive symptoms in older people.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in community (n = 376) with questionnaires of Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ) and Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale (MPPUS).

Results

80.9% of older people used smartphones and spend less than three hours on mobile phone per day. The average MPPU score of Chinese elderly is greater than the cut off to 41. Female (β = -0.11, P = 0.037), living with spouse (β = -0.17, P = 0.03), and late marriage age (β = -0.16, P = 0.007) are less likely to develop MPPU. The relationship between MPPU and depressive symptoms was partially mediated by social support and attitude to aging.

Conclusion

Elderly people generally have higher MPPU scores. MPPU was associated with depressive symptoms, through social support and attitude to aging.
Literature
1.
2.
3.
Busch PA, McCarthy S. Antecedents and consequences of problematic smartphone use: a systematic literature review of an emerging research area. Comput Hum Behav. 2021;114:106414.CrossRef
4.
Campbell M. The impact of the mobile phone on young people’s social life. Paper presented at: Social change in the 21 century 2005 conference proceedings; 2005.
5.
Walsh S, White K, Young R. Young and connected: Psychological influences of mobile phone use amongst Australian youth. Paper presented at: Proceedings: International conference on social and cultural aspects of mobile phones, convergent media and wireless technologies; 2007.
6.
Nahas M, Hlais S, Saberian C, Antoun J. Problematic smartphone use among Lebanese adults aged 18–65 years using MPPUS-10. Comput Hum Behav. 2018;87:348–53.CrossRef
7.
Billieux J, Maurage P, Lopez-Fernandez O, Kuss DJ, Griffiths MD. Can disordered mobile phone use be considered a behavioral addiction? An update on current evidence and a comprehensive model for future research. Curr Addict Rep. 2015;2(2):156–62.CrossRef
8.
Busch PA, Hausvik GI, Ropstad OK, Pettersen D. Smartphone usage among older adults. Comput Hum Behav. 2021;121:106783.CrossRef
9.
Mohd TAMT, Yunus RM, Hairi F, Hairi NN, Choo WY. Social support and depression among community dwelling older adults in Asia: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2019;9(7):e026667.CrossRef
10.
11.
Huh S, Bowman N. Perception and addiction of online games as a function of personality traits. 2008.
12.
Turel O, Serenko A, Giles P. Integrating technology addiction and use: an empirical investigation of online auction users. MIS Quart. 2011:1043–1061.
13.
Jiyun K, Jong-Eun L. Social support and health-related quality of life among elderly individuals living alone in South Korea: a cross-sectional study. J Nurs Res. 2018;26(5):316–23.CrossRef
14.
Wicke FS, Güthlin C, Mergenthal K, et al. Depressive mood mediates the influence of social support on health-related quality of life in elderly, multimorbid patients. BMC Fam Pract. 2014;15(1):1–11.CrossRef
15.
Mohd T, TengkuMohd TAM, Yunus RM, Hairi F, Hairi NN, Choo WY. Social support and depression among community dwelling older adults in Asia: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2019;9(7):e026667.CrossRef
16.
Gyasi RM, Phillips DR, Abass K. Social support networks and psychological wellbeing in community-dwelling older Ghanaian cohorts. Int Psychogeriatr. 2019;31(7):1047–57.CrossRefPubMed
17.
18.
Blazer DG. Depression in late life: review and commentary. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2003;58(3):M249–65.CrossRef
19.
Liu D, Xi J, Hall BJ, et al. Attitudes toward aging, social support and depression among older adults: difference by urban and rural areas in China. J Affect Disord. 2020;274:85–92.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Shaffer HJ, LaPlante DA, LaBrie RA, Kidman RC, Donato AN, Stanton MV. Toward a syndrome model of addiction: multiple expressions, common etiology. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2004;12(6):367–74.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Carbonell X, Oberst U, Beranuy M. The cell phone in the twenty-first century: a risk for addiction or a necessary tool. Principles Addict. 2013;1(1):901–9.CrossRef
22.
Curcio G, Ferrara M, De Gennaro L, Cristiani R, D’Inzeo G, Bertini M. Time-course of electromagnetic field effects on human performance and tympanic temperature. NeuroReport. 2004;15(1):161–4.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Lin S. Community adaptation, self-concept and social support of patients with schizophrenia. Kaohsiung: Master thesis; 1997.
24.
Zimet GD, Dahlem NW, Zimet SG, Farley GK. The multidimensional scale of perceived social support. J Pers Assess. 1988;52(1):30–41.CrossRef
25.
Sheikh JI, Yesavage JA. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): recent evidence and development of a shorter version. Clin Gerontologist. 1986;5(1-2):165–73.
26.
Wancata J, Alexandrowicz R, Marquart B, Weiss M, Friedrich F. The criterion validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale: a systematic review. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2006;114(6):398–410.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Liu C-Y, Lu C-H, Yu S, Yang Y-Y. Correlations between scores on Chinese versions of long and short forms of the Geriatric Depression Scale among elderly Chinese. Psychol Rep. 1998;82(1):211–4.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Liu P-C, Chung M-S. The prevalence and correlates of depression of the elderly in local community centers in Nantou Taiwan. Taiwan J Psychiatry. 2019;33(2):110.CrossRef
29.
Laidlaw K, Power M, Schmidt S. The attitudes to ageing questionnaire (AAQ): development and psychometric properties. Int J Geriatr Psychiatr. 2007;22(4):367–79.CrossRef
30.
Ng KC, Wu LH, Lam HY, et al. The relationships between mobile phone use and depressive symptoms, bodily pain, and daytime sleepiness in Hong Kong secondary school students. Addict Behav. 2020;101:105975.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Foerster M, Roser K, Schoeni A, Röösli M. Problematic mobile phone use in adolescents: derivation of a short scale MPPUS-10. Int J Public Health. 2015;60(2):277–86.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Hayes AF. Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis second edition: A regression-based approach. New York, NY: Ebook The Guilford Press Google Scholar; 2018.
33.
Schreiber JB. Core reporting practices in structural equation modeling. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2008;4(2):83–97.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Hayes AF. Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: a regression-based approach. Guilford publications; 2017.
35.
Davazdahemami B, Hammer B, Soror A. Addiction to mobile phone or addiction through mobile phone? Paper presented at: 2016 49th Hawaii international conference on system sciences (HICSS); 2016.
36.
Zhitomirsky-Geffet M, Blau M. Cross-generational analysis of predictive factors of addictive behavior in smartphone usage. Comput Hum Behav. 2016;64:682–93.CrossRef
37.
Augner C, Hacker GW. Associations between problematic mobile phone use and psychological parameters in young adults. Int J Public Health. 2012;57:437–41.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Bianchi A, Phillips JG. Psychological predictors of problem mobile phone use. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2005;8(1):39–51.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Lemola S, Perkinson-Gloor N, Brand S, Dewald-Kaufmann JF, Grob A. Adolescents’ electronic media use at night, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms in the smartphone age. J Youth Adolesc. 2015;44(2):405–18.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Duay DL, Bryan VC. Senior adults’ perceptions of successful aging. Educ Gerontol. 2006;32(6):423–45.CrossRef
41.
Lai DW. Older Chinese’attitudes toward aging and the relationship to mental health: an international comparison. Soc Work Health Care. 2009;48(3):243–59.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Suh S, Choi H, Lee C, Cha M, Jo I. Association between knowledge and attitude about aging and life satisfaction among older Koreans. Asian Nurs Res. 2012;6(3):96–101.CrossRef
43.
Bai X, Lai DW, Guo A. Ageism and depression: Perceptions of older people as a burden in China. J Soc Issues. 2016;72(1):26–46.CrossRef
44.
Ikeda K, Nakamura K. Association between mobile phone use and depressed mood in Japanese adolescents: a cross-sectional study. Environ Health Prev Med. 2014;19(3):187–93.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Wurm S, Benyamini Y. Optimism buffers the detrimental effect of negative self-perceptions of ageing on physical and mental health. Psychol Health. 2014;29(7):832–48.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Sindi S, Juster R-P, Wan N, Nair N, Ying Kin N, Lupien S. Depressive symptoms, cortisol, and cognition during human aging: the role of negative aging perceptions. Stress. 2012;15(2):130–7.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Mobile phone problem use and depressive symptoms: the mediating role of social support and attitude to aging among Chinese older adults
Authors
Linlin Ding
Zhihan Li
Hao Jiang
Xiaona Zhang
Zhenfang Xiong
Xinhong Zhu
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05565-x

Other articles of this Issue 1/2024

BMC Psychiatry 1/2024 Go to the issue

Research

Association of verbal and non-verbal theory of mind abilities with non-coding variants of OXTR in youth with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing individuals: a case-control study

Research

The mediating effects of hope on the relationships of social support and self-esteem with psychological resilience in patients with stroke

Study Protocol

An Integrated Care Pathway for depression in adolescents: protocol for a Type 1 Hybrid Effectiveness-implementation, Non-randomized, Cluster Controlled Trial

Research

The anxiety response of patients with severe psychiatric disorders to the recent public health crisis

Research

Gender differences in plasma S100B levels of patients with major depressive disorder

Research

Potential of niacin skin flush response in adolescent depression identification and severity assessment: a case-control study