Self-control mediation on the relationship between personal growth initiative and smartphone addiction among Chinese university students

Abstract

We examined the role of self-control in the relationship between personal growth initiative and smartphone addiction among university students. A convenience sample of 783 Chinese students (female = 75.7%; mean age = 20.34 years, SD = 1.44 years) completed measures of personal growth initiative, self-control, and smartphone addiction. Hierarchical regression and bootstrapping analyses indicated that those self-reporting with personal growth also reported a lower risk for smartphone addiction. A sense of good self-control mediated the relationship between personal growth initiative and risk for smartphone addiction, lowering the risk for smart phone addiction among those with a higher sense of self-control. The findings highlight the importance of personal growth initiative and self-control in reducing risk for smartphone addiction problems among university students.

Keywords:

• personal growth initiative
• self-control
• smartphone addiction

Acknowledgements

The study was supported by Research project on teacher education curriculum reform in Henan Province (Grant No.2019-JSJYZD-030), Key scientific research projects of colleges and universities in Henan Province (Grant No.22A880031), Postgraduate Education Reform Project of Henan Province “Research on the path of graduate students’ Academic Integrity Construction”, and Henan basic education teacher development research innovation team construction project.