Psychological distress and problematic smartphone use: Two faces of the same coin? Findings from a survey on young Italian adults

Literature has shown that maladaptive smartphone use is more frequent in young adults and it is frequently associated with a condition of psychological distress. The Smartphone Addiction is an emerging phenomenon which has been shown to negatively affect individuals' well-being, productivity and health. It is considered a new form of Internet Addiction via mobile phone. The aim of the study was to evaluate the factor structure of the Italian translation of the Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV) in a large sample of young Italian adults and to investigate the role of a psychological distress condition and other potential risk factors with respect to problematic smartphone use in this population. A sample of 2260 students (aged 18–25 years) filled in a web-based survey including the SAS-SV, the Internet Addiction Test, and the Matthey Generic Mood Questionnaire. An Exploratory Factor Analysis followed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed a reliable two-factor 8-items structure of SAS-SV. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that moderate-high perception of psychological distress, time spent using the smartphone overnight and, use of image-based social networks were independent predictors of problematic smartphone use. Results led to a shorter and reliable tool, the SAS-SV-8, and highlighted predictors that can account for a potential risk profile to be taken into consideration in prevention.