Bidirectional association between problematic smartphone use and aggressive behavior: A cross-lagged longitudinal study.

Abstract

Background and aims: Problematic smartphone use are prevalent worldwide, particularly among adolescents, and it is strongly linked with aggressive behavior. However, the understanding of how PSU may contribute to the emergence of aggressive behavior remains incomplete.

Methods: The purpose of this study was to examine the bidirectional links between aggressive behavior and PSU among adolescents, utilizing data from a two-wave longitudinal study (the time interval is 15 months) conducted among 2,650 students in middle and high school.

Results: The cross-lagged models revealed that: (1) PSU at Time 1 (December 12) positively predicted aggressive behavior at Time 2 (March 2023, 15 months apart) among older adolescents (15-19 years), but this was not the case for younger adolescents (11-14 years); (2) aggressive behavior at Time 1 positively predicted PSU at Time 2 for both younger and older adolescents. Our findings have identified PSU as a risk factor for aggressive behavior among older adolescents, with those perceiving higher PSU may be particularly vulnerable to developing aggressive behavior over time.

Discussion and conclusions: These results not only enhance our understanding of the links between PSU and aggressive behavior but also provide significant theoretical perspectives for developing future prevention strategies and intervention measures to tackle aggressive behavior among adolescents.