Factors associated with types of problematic cell phone use among Mexican adolescent students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/28fqff27Keywords:
Cell phone addiction; Adolescents; Social media; Academic performance; Problematic cell phone use; Digital health.Abstract
Introduction: Problematic cell phone use represents a growing problem among
adolescents due to excessive and uncontrolled use of the device, which can lead to
dependence and affect physical and mental health and academic performance. Factors such
as social media, the need for acceptance, anxiety, and the family environment contribute to
this behavior. Objective: To identify the factors associated with the different types of
problematic cell phone use among Mexican adolescent students. Methods: A cross-sectional
and correlational study was conducted in a sample of 183 high school students, aged
between 14 and 17 years. The Cell Phone Addiction Type Scale was used, assessing
dimensions such as social media, video games, information seeking, and short videos,
validated for the Mexican population, and the data were analyzed using descriptive
statistics, nonparametric tests, Spearman's correlation, and multiple linear regression.
Results: Social media was the main type of problematic use, followed by information
seeking, short videos, and video games. Men reported greater problematic use of video
games, and students with low academic performance presented greater problematic use of
social media and information seeking. In addition, academic average was the only variable
associated with overall problematic cell phone use. Conclusion: Men presented greater
problematic use of video games than women, and academic average was associated with
the overall score of problematic cell phone use.
Downloads
References
Billieux, J., Maurage, P., Lopez-Fernandez, O., Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). Can disordered mobile phone use be considered a behavioral addiction? An update on current evidence and a comprehensive model for future research. Current Addiction Reports, 2(2), 156–162. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-015-0054-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-015-0054-y
Domoff, S. E., Harrison, K., Gearhardt, A. N., Gentile, D. A., Lumeng, J. C., & Miller, A. L. (2019). Development and validation of the Problematic Media Use Measure: A parent report measure of screen media “addiction” in children. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 8(1), 2–11. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000163 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000163
Domoff, S. E., Sutherland, E. Q., Yokum, S., & Gearhardt, A. N. (2020). Adolescents’ addictive phone use: Associations with eating behaviors and adiposity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(8), E2861. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082861 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082861
Elhai, J. D., Yang, H., & Montag, C. (2021). Fear of missing out (FOMO): overview, theoretical underpinnings, and literature review on relations with severity of negative affectivity and problematic technology use. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil: 1999), 43(2), 203–209. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2020-0870 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2020-0870
García, L. S. (2025). Percepción de la adicción al celular en jóvenes de educación media superior. Revista Electrónica sobre Educación Media y Superior, 12(24). https://doi.org/10.23913/cemys.v12i24.417
Gómez Diez, Á. (2021). Problemas de salud y adicción a las nuevas tecnologías: el papel de enfermería [Trabajo de fin de grado]. Universidad de Cantabria. http://hdl.handle.net/10902/22520
González, E. A. M., Gomes, I. C., García, J. Á., Sanchez, U. L., & Catalán, G. M. (2026). Adaptación cultural y análisis factorial confirmatorio de la escala de tipo de adicción al celular. South Florida Journal of Development, 7(2), e6209. https://doi.org/10.46932/sfjdv7n2-011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.46932/sfjdv7n2-011
González-López, M., & Guzmán-Meza, E. (2021). La adicción al celular una problemática en niños y adolescentes. Revista Estudios en Educación, 4, 103-114. https://www.academia.edu/download/89888061/La_adiccion_al_celular_una_problematica_1_.pdf
Hernández Estrada, Ó., Realyvázquez Quintana, J. A., & Salas Hernández, T. U. (2024). Causas y efectos del uso del celular, revisión bibliográfica. Revista SPAUACH Academia Vitalis, 8 (9). https://spauach.uach.mx/revista_spauach/articulo/51
Jameel, S., Shahnawaz, M. G., & Griffiths, M. D. (2019). Smartphone addiction in students: A qualitative examination of the components model of addiction using face-to-face interviews. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 8(4), 780–793. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.8.2019.57 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.8.2019.57
Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). Social networking sites and addiction: Ten lessons learned. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(3), E311. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14030311 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14030311
Lozano-Blasco, R., & Cortés-Pascual, A. (2020). Problematic Internet uses and depression in adolescents: A meta-analysis. Comunicar, 28(63), 109–120. https://doi.org/10.3916/c63-2020-10 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3916/C63-2020-10
Luján Barreda, A. L., & Denís, M. (2022). Adicción al móvil e Impulsividad: ¿Cuánto tardas en responder un mensaje de Whatsapp? Informació psicològica, 24–38. https://doi.org/10.14635/ipsic.1924 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14635/IPSIC.1924
Montag, C., Wegmann, E., Sariyska, R., Demetrovics, Z., & Brand, M. (2021). How to overcome taxonomical problems in the study of Internet use disorders and what to do with “smartphone addiction”? Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 9(4), 908–914. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.8.2019.59 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.8.2019.59
Moya, G. H., Garcia, K. N. M., Soto, K. I. P., Arias, J. A. V., & Palacios, A. A. Y. (2022). La Adicción a las Redes en Adolescentes: Revisión Sistematica. Reflexiones en Trabajo Social, 2(1), 46–56. https://revistas.uncp.edu.pe/index.php/reflexiones/article/view/1648
Nannatt, A., Tariang, N. M., Gowda, M., & Devassy, S. M. (2022). Family factors associated with problematic use of the internet in children: A scoping review. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 44(4), 341–348. https://doi.org/10.1177/02537176221090862 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/02537176221090862
Odgers, C. L., & Jensen, M. R. (2020). Annual Research Review: Adolescent mental health in the digital age: facts, fears, and future directions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 61(3), 336–348. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13190 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13190
Olivares-Guido, C. M., Tafoya, S. A., Aburto-Arciniega, M. B., Guerrero-López, B., & Diaz-Olavarrieta, C. (2024). Problematic use of smartphones and social media on sleep quality of high school students in Mexico city. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(9), 1177. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091177 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091177
Peng, Y., Cui, W., Yang, R., & Wang, H. (2025). Parental attachment and problematic smartphone use in adolescents: the chain-mediated role. Frontiers in Psychology, 16(1648291), 1648291. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1648291 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1648291
Pérez Cabrejos, R. G., Rodríguez Galán, D. B., Colquepisco Paúcar, N. T., & Enríquez Ludeña, R. L. (2021). Consecuencias de la nomofobia en adolescentes: una revisión sistemática. Conrado, 17(81), 203-210. https://conrado.ucf.edu.cu/index.php/conrado/article/view/1887
Riverón Nápoles, D., Suz Pompa, M. A., Valdés Utrera, J. R., Valle Ramírez, R. A., Díaz Guerra, D., & Hernández Lugo, M. de la C. (2023). Dependencia a los dispositivos móviles: revisión sistemática en Latinoamérica y Cuba durante la última década. Edumecentro, 15. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/9525488.pdf
Ruvalcabar Estrada, O., & Hernández Sánchez, H. (2022). Adicción a internet en estudiantes mexicanos de educación secundaria. Franz Tamayo - Revista de Educación, 4(11), 50–67. https://doi.org/10.33996/franztamayo.v4i11.957 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33996/franztamayo.v4i11.957
Shahidin, S. H., Midin, M., Sidi, H., Choy, C. L., Nik Jaafar, N. R., Mohd Salleh Sahimi, H., & Che Roos, N. A. (2022). The relationship between emotion regulation (ER) and Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU): A systematic review and meta-analyses. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(23), 15848. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315848 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315848
Sohn, S., Rees, P., Wildridge, B., Kalk, N. J., & Carter, B. (2019). Correction to: Prevalence of problematic smartphone usage and associated mental health outcomes amongst children and young people: a systematic review, meta-analysis and GRADE of the evidence. BMC Psychiatry, 19(1), 397. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2393-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2393-z
Zhu, W., Zhang, Y., Lan, Y., & Song, X. (2025). Smartphone dependence and its influence on physical and mental health. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16(1281841), 1281841. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1281841 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1281841
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Karina Mociños González, Erandi Amaireth Muñoz González, Itallo Carvalho Gomes, Julieta Ángel García, Diego Estrada Luna, Geu Mendoza Catalán (Autor/a)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.













