Pathological use of mobile phones by secondary school students

Aims: In recent years the possession and use of a mobile phone has become more and more prevalent among adolescents. The dangers resulting from the dysfunctional use of mobile phones (addiction to phone calls, text messages and functions of the phone itself) are presented in this study. The main aim of the study was an exploration of addiction to mobile phones in secondary school students and of any differences in addiction to mobile phones in female and male students. Methods: Overall, 470 Polish secondary school students from the region of Silesia took part in the study. They were asked to fill in a questionnaire concerning the types of online activity and the aims and intensity of use of modern means of communication (computers with Internet access and mobile phones). The questionnaire used was the Mobile Phone Addiction Assessment Questionnaire (Kwestionariusz do Badania Uzaleznienia od Telefonu Komorkowego-KBUTK). Results: Adolescents are ever better equipped with mobile phones. There are significant statistical differences between secondary school students correctly and pathologically using mobile phones overall and by gender. Around 35% of students fulfilled the criteria of being at risk of mobile phone addiction and around 4% were addicted to mobile phones. Analyzing the level of addiction to mobile phones by gender, more females than males fulfill the addiction criteria and the at risk criteria. The KBUTK questionnaire is a reliable tool which has adequate psychometric qualities and can be used to study various dimensions of mobile phone addiction (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). Conclusions: Problematic use of mobile phones by adolescents may cause health problems and social expense.