About this srcd poster session

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Panel information
Panel 24. Technology, Media & Child Development

Abstract

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In the digital age, smartphone dependency—characterized by excessive use, daily life disruption, withdrawal symptoms, and a preference for virtual interactions—is a growing concern, especially for adolescents who are vulnerable due to developmental shifts toward greater autonomy and increased social interactions (Kapur, 2015). The COVID-19 pandemic intensified this issue by significantly reducing in-person interactions and increasing online engagement (Kim & Kim, 2022). Smartphone dependence and the pandemic together have further aggravated social withdrawal, which is increasingly common in modern society. Given the robust links between social withdrawal and various mental health outcomes in adolescents, prevention and intervention efforts are urgently needed. To develop effective strategies, it is essential to examine the long-term patterns of smartphone dependency during the pandemic, identify vulnerable groups, and understand the individual, family, and peer factors that influence these trajectories. This study examined adolescents transitioning from middle to high school during the pandemic, exploring how adapting to a new school environment and pandemic-related social disruptions contributed to smartphone dependency in Korean adolescents (aged 14-18). Specifically, this study aimed to 1) identify heterogeneous trajectories of smartphone dependency, 2) examine relationships between early adolescence characteristics (individual, family, and peer factors) and smartphone dependency trajectories, and 3) investigate associations between these trajectories and social withdrawal in late adolescence.

Data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey 2018 (N = 2,590) were analyzed using a Piecewise Growth Mixture Model. This method allowed for the estimation of changes in dependency patterns before and after 2020, a critical time point marking both the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to high school. Gender, self-esteem, academic helplessness, parenting attitudes, and peer relationships during the first year of middle school were included as predictors, while social withdrawal in the second year of high school was the outcome.

The results revealed four distinct trajectories: the 'healthy use' group (11%), which exhibited consistently low smartphone dependency, characterized by high self-esteem and low academic helplessness; the 'potential risk' group (7%), which showed a sharp rise in dependence during the transition to high school, especially around the pandemic's onset; the 'potentially well-regulated' group (75%), which experienced a slight decline in dependency, though their overall levels remained relatively high; and the 'chronically dependent' group (8%), which demonstrated consistently high dependency, marked by the lowest self-esteem and highest academic helplessness. The 'chronically dependent' group also exhibited the highest levels of social withdrawal in late adolescence.

Each group displayed unique patterns of smartphone dependency shaped by both the pandemic and the transition to high school. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, particularly for the 'chronically dependent' and 'potential risk' groups. Promoting self-esteem and academic engagement can help reduce smartphone dependency and prevent social withdrawal, offering crucial support to South Korean adolescents during this key developmental period.

Author information

Author	Role
Yeseul Lee, Department of Child and Family Studies / Human Life & Innovation Design, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University	Presenting author
Jihye Lee, Department of Child and Family Studies / BK21 Symbiotic Society & Design, Yonsei University	Non-presenting author
Kum Seon Lee, Department of Child and Family Studies / Human Life & Innovation Design, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University	Non-presenting author
Susanna Joo, Institute of Future City and Society, Yonsei University	Non-presenting author
Hyoun Kyoung Kim, Department of Child and Family Studies / Human Life & Innovation Design, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University	Non-presenting author

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