Effects of Companion Animals Interaction on Adolescents Social Withdrawal Focusing on the Mediating Effect of Smartphone Overdependence

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effects of smartphone overdependence on the effects of companion animal interactions on adolescents’ social withdrawal. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted among junior high school and high school students aged 14~18 years through an online research company from February 16 to February 27, 2023, consisting of a total of 375 data were used for analysis. The mediating effects were analyzed using a structural equation model, and the statistical significance of the mediating effect was verified by applying the bootstrapping method. The main findings of the research are as follows. First, the companion animal interaction showed a statistically significant direct effect on adolescents’ smartphone overdependence and social withdrawal. Second, the companion animal interaction had a statistically significant direct effect on social withdrawal by mediating smartphone overdependence. In this process, a partial mediating effect was confirmed. Third, smartphone overdependence showed a statistically significant direct effect on social withdrawal. This study confirmed that interaction with companion animals is a factor that affects adolescents’ smartphone overdependence and social withdrawal. Based on these results, intervention plans to prevent adolescents’ smartphone overdependence and social withdrawal were discussed.