The Relationship Between Smartphone Addiction and the Interpersonal Competence of Chinese Private College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model

• Published in: Psychology research and behavior management Vol. 17; pp. 653 - 664
• Main Authors: Su, Yunjing, Yan, Zhonglian, Lin, Wenqi, Liu, Xuelin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2024; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: chinese private college students; College students; interpersonal competence; Mediation; negative emotions; Original Research; psychological resilience; smartphone addiction; China; Chinese private college students; smartphone addiction; interpersonal competence; psychological resilience; negative emotions
• ISSN: 1179-1578; 1179-1578
• DOI: 10.2147/PRBM.S445364

As an aspect of the lives of private college students in China, interpersonal competence (IC) is important to their socialization and employment competence. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Chinese private college students' smartphone addiction (SPA) and IC, the mediating effect of negative emotions (NE), and the moderating effect of psychological resilience (PR). Using simple random sampling, 5473 Chinese private college students (male 74.5%, urban household registration 51.6%, served as a student leader 31.5%) were recruited. The results showed that (1) SPA positively predicted IC; (2) NE partially mediated the relationship between SPA and IC; and (3) PR moderated the relationships between SPA and NE, NE and IC, SPA and IC. These findings provide a new perspective to improve Chinese private college students' socialization and their employment competitiveness.