The effects of mobile phone use on students’ emotional-behavioural functioning, and academic and social competencies

Hossein Eskandari, Mohammad Reza Vahdani Asadi, Rouhollah Khodabandelou*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This correlational study investigates the relationship between mobile phone use among elementary school students in Iran during the Covid-19 epidemic, and its effect on emotional-behavioural functioning and academic and social competencies. A researcher-devised questionnaire, and the Achenbach Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL)-parental version, was used to assess parental perception of the effects of mobile phone use. Questionnaires were completed by 500 parents, of which 470 were analysed. Findings showed a perceived relationship between the use of cyberspace (smartphone, tablet, games, and social networks) and anxious/depressed, withdrawn, somatic complaints, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, antisocial behaviour, and aggressive behaviour in children. Findings indicate that children’s cultural context affects their exposure to online dangers, including receiving threatening images and messages, and cyberbullying; the effects in the current study being lower than the international average. It is recommended that there should be focus on promoting students’ media literacy, and parental awareness.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)38-58
Number of pages21
JournalEducational Psychology in Practice
Volume39
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Keywords

  • academic competencies
  • emotional-behavioural problems
  • smartphone
  • social competencies

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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