Do young people perceive their smartphone addiction as problematic? A study in Danish university college students

As smartphone addiction has been linked to poor mental health and lower levels of physical activity, it is of public health interest to explore the behavior behind problematic smartphone use and develop interventions to reduce smartphone use. This study aimed to investigate the risk of smartphone addiction and examine perceived problematic smartphone behavior among university college students. This online survey conducted amongst 1251 Danish University College students studied smartphone addiction in conjunction with physical- and mental health dimensions. The risk of smartphone addiction was estimated using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). The main results are presented as odds ratios from multivariate logistic regressions. One in four (23%) were at high risk of smartphone addiction. Of this high-risk group, 74% identified their smartphone behavior as problematic, with 91% having considered reducing their smartphone use. Students with a high risk of smartphone addiction perceiving their behavior as problematic were more likely to report low mental health and well-being. In conclusion, students at high risk of smartphone addiction acknowledge their problematic behavior and have actively considered behavior modifications. This knowledge can enable teachers, parents, and social and health workers to understand that a majority of heavy smartphone users are open to reducing their smartphone usage, albeit with the appropriate support.