The Mediating Role of Smartphone Usage Time in the Relation between Stress and Anxiety among Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: This study examines the mediating effect of smartphone usage time on the relationship between stress and anxiety among adolescents.Methods: Data on 54,848 adolescents were obtained from the 17th (2021) Korea Youth Behavior Survey. The data were analyzed using PROCESS Macro Version 4.1 (Model 4) to examine the effect and significance of each path in the mediation model.Results: There was a statistically significant direct effect of stress on anxiety. Additionally, smartphone usage time mediated the relationship between stress and anxiety, indicating a significant indirect effect.Conclusions: The findings suggest the importance of addressing stress coping strategies and implementing effective intervention programs related to smartphone use to promote adolescents’ mental health.