The effect of social anxiety on mobile phone dependence among Chinese adolescents: A moderated mediation model

Background: This study constructed a moderated mediation model, focusing on the role of rumination and self-concept clarity, to clarify the mechanism between social anxiety and mobile phone dependence in adolescents. Method: A total of 1141 high school students (M = 16.02, SD = 0.76) participated in this study. Questionnaires were used to investigate social anxiety, mobile phone dependence, rumination, and self-concept clarity. Results: (1) After controlling gender, age, and grade, social anxiety positively correlates with adolescents' mobile phone dependence. (2) Rumination plays a mediating role in the relationship between social anxiety and mobile phone dependence. (3) Self-concept clarity moderates the effect of social anxiety on the rumination. Limitations: The cross-sectional design of the study cannot examine the causal relationship between social anxiety and adolescents' mobile phone dependence. The sampling range is limited, and the results should be promoted with caution. Conclusions: Findings reveal the relationship between social anxiety and adolescents' mobile phone dependence behavior. Certain implications were also provided for guiding young people in properly using mobile phones.