Problematic mobile phone use among youth athletes: a qualitative investigation using focus groups

ABSTRACT

The study provided a qualitative investigation into problematic mobile phone use among the youth athlete population. The study aimed to identify the factors which contributed to problematic use, the effects of problematic use, and suggestions on how to help youth athletes overcome problematic use. Four focus groups sessions were conducted with a total of 21 Singaporean youth athletes (aged 12–18 years old) from four different sports. The data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings indicated various factors which contributed to problematic use, namely personal attributes, needs fulfilment, and external influences. Effects of problematic use included areas such as shrinkage of time, performance deficits, and undesirable behaviours. There were various suggestions on how to overcome problematic use, which included strengthening internal resources and tapping into sources of external help. Future research should seek to use the knowledge derived from this study to create interventions to help youth athletes deal with their problematic mobile phone use.

KEYWORDS:

• Mobile phone
• problematic use
• focus groups
• youth
• athlete

Acknowledgements

The first author would like to acknowledge the support of the Nanyang Technological University Research Scholarship in making this research possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Y. H. Kee or N. C. H. Ong, upon reasonable request.