Risk factors for using mobile phones and social media among students in higher education institutions

Abstract

Mobile phones have become indispensable devices for young people, transforming traditional socializing spaces into virtual ones. Excessive use of mobile phones can lead to problematic or addictive behavior. This study analyzes the dependence of university students on new technologies, specifically mobile phones and social networks. It aims to identify correlations between various variables that influence this dependence and associate them with parameters characterizing other types of addiction, such as substance use. The study employed the “Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale” questionnaire along with a questionnaire developed by the researchers to collect data on socio-demographic, psychosocial, and social network variables. A total of 371 students from Pablo Olavide University in Seville participated in the study. The results showed that 53.4% of the participants considered themselves dependent on mobile phones, while 35.1% reported dependence on social networks. Interestingly, the age of the students did not appear to influence problematic mobile phone use, but there was a notable gender difference, with women being more likely to misuse mobile phones than men.