How parental mediation affects adolescents' problematic smartphone use: The chain mediating role of basic psychological needs and positive outcome expectations

Yan Chen¹Qian Gu²Qishan Zheng^3,4Biying Hu⁵Chuanhua Gu^3,4*Qingping Hu^6*Yuqi Cao^3,4,7*

• ¹Tian Jiabing College of Education, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
• ²School of Educational Science, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
• ³Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
• ⁴Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
• ⁵Faculty of Education, University of Macau, Macau, China
• ⁶Campus Hospital, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
• ⁷Henan Institute of Engineering, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China

Purpose: Problematic smartphone use can significantly jeopardize adolescents' academic development as well as their physical and mental health. Although previous studies have explored the role of parental mediation strategies in adolescents' problematic smartphone use, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationship between parental mediation and adolescents' problematic smartphone use, with a specific focus on the chain mediation effects of basic psychological needs and positive outcome expectations. Methods: This study conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,947 students from three junior high schools in Wuhan, Yichang, and Xiaogan, China, using a cluster sampling method. Validated scales were employed to measure parental mediation, problematic smartphone use, basic psychological needs, and positive outcome expectations.Results: The findings revealed that active mediation not only directly influences problematic smartphone use but also exerts an indirect effect through the individual mediation of basic psychological needs and positive outcome expectations, as well as through the sequential mediation from basic psychological needs to positive outcome expectations. Parental supervision not only directly influenced problematic smartphone use but also exerted indirect effects through the independent mediating role of basic psychological needs and the chain mediation pathway from basic psychological needs to positive outcome expectations.Conclusion: Active mediation and basic psychological needs significantly reduced adolescents' problematic smartphone use, whereas parental supervision and positive outcome expectations significantly increased it. These findings provide theoretical insights into the mechanisms of problematic smartphone use and offer practical implications for educational strategies, emphasizing the importance of parents selecting appropriate mediation approaches, fulfilling basic psychological needs, and reducing positive outcome expectations to mitigate adolescents' problematic smartphone use.