This study examines the influence of the alienation on the excessive use of mobile smart phone among teenagers, then analyzes the moderating effects of parent attachment and peer group attachment among them. The data was obtained from the 800 samples ...
This study examines the influence of the alienation on the excessive use of mobile smart phone among teenagers, then analyzes the moderating effects of parent attachment and peer group attachment among them. The data was obtained from the 800 samples attending middle and high schools in Daegu metropolitan city and 671 samples using smart phone were analyzed by statistical methods of frequency, t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis using SPSS 18.0. In order to explain smart phone use, questions regarding alienation was used as independent variable and questions on the degree of the smart phone use were used as dependent variables. Also, age, gender, parental status, and family status were selected as control variables in addition to moderating variables of parent attachment and peer attachment.
The results summarize as follows: First, the level of major variables was shown as 2.21 of alienation, 2.51 of smart phone use out of 5 points scales. Among the degree of attachments, father attachment was 3.50, mother attachment was 3.65, and peer attachment was 3.26. Among the sub-elements of alienation variables, a sense of norm loss was indicated as 2.59, a sense of powerless 2.24, and a sense of isolation 1.98. Among the sub-factors of phone use, the obsession/compulsion was indicated as 2.76, tolerance 2.69, withdrawal 2.46, and inconvenience of life/maladjustment 2.17. Second, the alienation degree shows meaningful differences in age and excessive use of smart phone shows the differences in sex and age. While father attachment shows meaningful difference in family status, mother attachment shows none in all section. In age attachment, only sex has shown statistically meaningful difference. Third, as a result of studying variables effecting excessive use of smart phone, alienation, mother attachment and age attachment shows meaningful influence. The sub factors show that the senses of powerless and norm loss influence smart phone overuse except for a sense of isolation. Among sub elements of father attachment, a sense of isolation level was influenced and among sub factor of mother attachment, a sense of trust level was affected. Also, among sub factor of age attachment, the sense of communication level was solely influenced. Fourth, as for the moderating effects, the peer attachment appeared to be significant while parent attachment was insignificant, age attachment shows the effect. with the examination, The direction of moderating effect indicated that the peer attachement was found to be a dangerous factor for the smart phone overuse.
The results of the study shows that it is recommended to concern to identify detailed approach of intervention for the excessive use of smart phone by focusing on sense of isolation, and to provide appropriate programs with education for parents at home. Also, it is recommended to have prevention program for teenagers using phone excessively in order to provide healthy attachment among their peer groups. Although, this study implemented in a limited area of Daegu metropolitan city, it is expected to contribute to the prevention of smart phone overuse among teenagers.