Mindfulness, impulsivity and psychological distress: the mediation role of smartphone addiction

ABSTRACT

In this study the aim was to examine the mediation role of smartphone addiction in the association between mindfulness/impulsivity and psychological distress. The participants consisted of 343 (110 [32.1%] male and 233 [67.9%] female) university students from five different universities in Turkey. Cross-sectional data were gathered using self-report. The mediation role of smartphone addiction was examined with structural equation modelling, and bootstrapping procedures were used to determine indirect effects. The results showed that mindfulness negatively predicted smartphone addiction and psychological distress, with impulsivity positively predicting smartphone addiction and psychological distress. Smartphone addiction positively predicted psychological distress, partially mediating the relationship between mindfulness/impulsivity and psychological distress.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychological distress
• mindfulness
• impulsivity
• smartphone addiction
• mediation model
• university students

Data availability statement

Due to the nature of this research, participants of this study did not agree for their data to be shared publicly, so supporting data is not available.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ahmet Rıfat KAYİŞ

Ahmet Rıfat KAYİŞ is an Assistant Professor at Kastamonu University, Turkey. His current research is concerned with smartphone addiction and mental health. He has also worked on wellness, wellbeing, personality traits and educational psychology.