Co-occurrence Patterns in Early Adolescent Social Avoidance and Distress and Mobile Phone Addiction: The Role of Self-compassion

Social avoidance and distress and mobile phone addiction are typical psychobehavioral problems in early adolescence. However, no studies have examined their co-occurrence patterns and the role of self-compassion. This study used personal-oriented analysis to examine the co-occurrence patterns of social avoidance and distress and mobile phone addition and the protective role of self-compassion in 993 first year junior high school students (49.9% female) over a one year period with two follow-up assessments.The results showed that the co-occurring subgroups of social avoidance and distress and mobile phone addiction in early adolescence were double-low group, double-medium group, and double-high group. All three subgroups exhibited stability and variability over time. Self-compassion prevented a transition from the double-low and double-medium groups to the double-high group, whereas it did not affect a transition from the double-high group. These findings provide an empirical basis for targeted prevention and mitigation of social avoidance and distress and mobile phone addiction in early adolescence.

Automated summary

Social avoidance and distress and mobile phone addiction are common psychobehavioral problems in early adolescence. This study explored the co-occurrence patterns of these issues and the role of self-compassion. The results showed different subgroups with stability and variability over time, and self-compassion played a protective role in preventing transitions to higher levels of co-occurring problems. These findings provide empirical evidence for targeted prevention and mitigation strategies.