Classes of problematic smartphone use and information and communication technology (ICT) self-efficacy

Abstract

The role of information and communication technology (ICT) in adolescent development is considered a double-edged sword because it can both meet the needs of adolescents and cause potential damage to them. Previous studies primarily relied on variable-centered approaches and failed to reveal the heterogeneity among groups concerning problematic technology use and ICT literacy. This study employed a person-centered approach to identify distinct subgroups and examined their associations with smartphone use content types. Using a longitudinal design, we investigated 1275 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 14.22 years, SD = 1.23) twice in two years. Latent class analysis and regression mixture model were implemented. Six classes were identified. Less use of entertainment and more use of information-seeking and learning types of smartphone content a year earlier were predictors of well-adjusted group membership. The heterogeneity of ICT use among adolescents found in this study emphasizes the importance of personalized policy advice.