Mindful Attention as a Mediator Between Smartphone Overuse and Depressive Symptoms for Up to 6 Months Among Young People: Findings from Two Separate Epidemiological and Longitudinal Community Studies

Abstract

Objectives: The impact of smartphone overuse on mental health has been increasingly reported. Reduced levels of mindful attention may potentially be implicated in the relationship between smartphone overuse and psychiatric symptoms, although no study has yet examined its potential mediating effects. In two separate epidemiological and longitudinal youth samples, we examined the influences of smartphone overuse and reduced mindful attention on depressive symptoms and functioning for up to 6 months, and the potential mediating role of mindful attention between smartphone overuse and depressive symptoms. Method: Data were collected from 3210 participants from a household-based epidemiological youth mental health study and 314 participants from a longitudinal community-based youth mental health study in Hong Kong between 2019 and 2021. Results: Higher smartphone overuse and lower mindful attention were significantly associated with depressive symptoms and functional impairments (more days of lost/reduced productivity) at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Regression analyses revealed that lower mindful attention contributed significantly to both baseline and 6-month depressive symptoms beyond smartphone overuse and personal demographics. Reduced mindful attention also significantly mediated the effects of smartphone overuse on both current and 6-month depressive symptoms, even when accounting for baseline depressive symptoms and mindful attention. Conclusions: The study confirmed the long-term impact of smartphone overuse on depressive symptoms and functioning in young people and the mediating role of mindful attention. Facilitating mindful use of smartphones can be an important future intervention target. Further research should be conducted to confirm these observations in other populations and contexts. Pre-registration: This study is not pre-registered.