Smartphone-mediated communication and mental health: The moderating role of social support among university students in Makassar, Indonesia

Riyadi Riyadi^*Jeanny Maria FatimahHasrullah Hasrulah

• Department of Communication, Universitas Hasanuddin Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, Makassar, Indonesia

This study investigates the relationship between smartphone use and mental health among undergraduate students in Makassar, Indonesia, with a particular focus on the moderating role of social support. Using a stratified random sample of 400 students from three universities, data were collected through standardized questionnaires, including the Smartphone Use Scale, the DASS-21, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Results indicate that while general smartphone use had only a weak positive correlation with psychological distress (r = 0.12, p < 0.05), compulsive smartphone use showed a stronger association with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (r = 0.28, p < 0.001). Conversely, social support displayed a robust negative correlation with distress (r = - 0.34, p < 0.001), and significantly moderated the negative effects of smartphone use (β = -0.09, p < 0.05). These findings provide tentative support for extending the Stress-Buffering Hypothesis and Uses and Gratifications Theory into smartphone-mediated interactions within the collectivistic cultural context of Makassar. Importantly, the moderation effect was modest in magnitude and should be interpreted cautiously. Practically, the study underscores the importance of campus-based interventions that strengthen peer and community support systems to mitigate risks associated with compulsive smartphone use. Limitations include the restriction of the sample to undergraduate students in Makassar, suggesting that future studies should explore diverse regions and age groups across Indonesia to enhance generalizability.