How does childhood emotional abuse aggravate problematic mobile phone use among Chinese adolescents: roles of rumination and depression symptoms

Abstract

Problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) is a significant concern, particularly among adolescents. Accumulating evidence indicates that early traumatic events, such as childhood emotional abuse (CEA), are predisposing factors for adolescent PMPU. The primary objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between childhood emotional abuse (CEA) and problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) among adolescents, as well as to explore the potential mediating roles of rumination and symptoms of depression. Data were collected from Chinese senior high school students (N = 489, 44.79% males and 55.21% females, Mage = 16.92 years, SD = 0.67) who completed the measures of CEA, rumination, depression symptoms, and PMPU. The results revealed that (1) CEA did not have a direct effect on PMPU among adolescents; (2) CEA was associated with PMPU through rumination and depression symptoms, separately; (3) CEA was linked to PMPU via a sequential pathway from rumination to depression symptoms. The present study has unveiled the roles of CEA, rumination, and depression symptoms in the development of PMPU among adolescents. More precisely, rumination and depression symptoms serve indirect roles in the relationship between CEA and adolescent PMPU.