The purpose of this study was to verify the double mediating effect of emotion regulation style and academic procrastination in the relationship between depression and smartphone addiction tendency. A total of 485 undergraduate students aged 18 and older participated in the survey for this study, and they completed online questionnaires form, Smartphone Addiction Self-Report Scale for adults(S-Scale), Korean Version of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale(K-CES-D), Emotion Regulation Checklist(ERC), and Aitken Procrastination Inventory(API). Among them, 474 survey responses were used to undertake the final analysis, excluding the data of respondents who did not complete the questionnaires or did not meet the conditions of participants for the study.
The results obtained by analyzing the data were as follow: First, there were significant positive correlations among all variables(depression, avoidant/distractive emotion regulation style, academic procrastination, smartphone addiction tendency) except active emotion regulation style. Active emotion regulation style had a significant negative correlation with all other variables. Second, avoidant/distractive emotion regulation style, active emotion regulation style, and academic procrastination have partial mediating effects on the relationship between depression and smartphone addiction tendency. Third, in the relationship between depression and smartphone addiction tendency, there was a significant double mediating effect of avoidant/distractive emotion regulation style and academic procrastination. Fourth, in the relationship between depression and smartphone addiction tendency, there was a significant double mediating effect of active emotion regulation style and academic procrastination.
The implications of this study are as follows: First, this study suggests a perspective, when college/university students avoid negative emotions such as depression, academic procrastination occurs, and smartphone usage is strengthened and habituated by using smartphone as an alternative to studying, which can lead to smartphone addiction tendency. Second, treatment strategies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy will not only reduce depression but also reduce smartphone addiction tendency by accommodating negative emotions and finding specific plans for solving problems.