Relation of Problematic Parental Communication with Adolescent Smartphone Addiction

Description

Page: 470-475

Harsha Sadgun Singampalli, Angeline Bhaskar Busi, and M. V. R. Raju (Department of Psychology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh)

The rapid rise of smartphones has significantly impacted Indian adolescents, providing easy access to information, social interaction, and entertainment but also raising concerns about smartphone addiction. This study aims to explore the relationship between parent-adolescent communication and smartphone addiction and to investigate the influence of demographic variables on them. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from a sample of 845 individuals through the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale (PACS) and the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 27, employing independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation to assess relationships and differences among variables. The findings reveal that late adolescents, due to extensive use of social media, mobile games, and dating apps, coupled with less parental supervision, are particularly prone to smartphone addiction. Secondary students exhibited greater openness in communication with parents compared to undergraduate students, who demonstrated higher levels of smartphone addiction. Parental literacy positively affects communication openness and reduces smartphone addiction, though literate mothers may face time constraints due to additional responsibilities. Higher family income is linked to better communication and lower smartphone addiction levels, while economically disadvantaged adolescents experience higher stress and greater smartphone dependency. The study also finds a moderate positive correlation between communication problems and smartphone addiction. This research underscores the importance of effective parent-adolescent communication and highlights the role of demographic factors in managing smartphone addiction among adolescents.