Association between Self-Esteem and Smartphone Addiction: The Mediation Role of Self-Control 46 Technium Social Sciences Journal 2023

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46 Technium Soc. Sci. J. 256 (2023)
Association between Self-Esteem and Smartphone Addiction: The Mediation Role of Self-Control

handle is hein.journals/techssj46 and id is 257 raw text is:

Technium Social Sciences Journal
Vol. 46, 256-267, August, 2023
ISSN: 2668-7798
SOCIAL SCIENCES JOURNAL www.techniumscience.com

Association between Self-Esteem and Smartphone Addiction:
The Mediating Role of Self-Control

Elnur Rustamov', Tunzala Musayev2, Xalida Xalilova', Gultekin Ismayilova4,
Ulviyya Nahmatovas
Psychology Scientific Research Institute, 23 4Azerbaijan National Academy of
Sciences, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology

elnur.r@psixologiyainstitutu.az, tunzalamusayeva@yahoo.com,
khalidakhalilova@yahoo.com, gultekinismayilova@yahoo.com,
ulviyyanahmatova@mail.ru

Abstract. The aim of this study was to investigate whether self-control acts as a mediator in the
connection between self-esteem and smartphone addiction in a sizable group of adults (N = 1118;
age range = 18 to 63 years) residing in various regions of Azerbaijan. The findings revealed a
positive association between participants' self-esteem and their self-control, while their level of
smartphone addiction exhibited a negative association with self-esteem and self-control. The
results obtained from structural equation modeling indicated that self-control fully mediated the
relationship between self-esteem and smartphone addiction. Thus, there was a statistically
significant indirect impact of self-esteem on smartphone addiction through self-control.

Keywords. Smartphone addiction, self-esteem, self-control, structural equation modelling

Introduction
In the modern era, the influence of smartphones on our lives is expanding rapidly.
Through them, people send and receive messages and phone calls from each other. People are
spending more and more time with their smartphones, which in itself is addictive. The digital
transformation of everyday life is associated with the integration of smartphones into the daily
experience of a person in society. Digital transformation has affected not only the economic,
but also the social and cultural areas of society. The interest of social researchers in the
phenomenon of mobile technology began with the study of mobile devices as a means of
communication (e.g., Kutuk, 2023).
Today, smartphones are used not only as a means of communication, but also as a
device that can solve various types of problems. Mobile technologies give us access to online
conferences, training, various jobs, entertainment, and even documents on a work computer. In
short, there is no limit to what we can do with a smartphone. Prolonged smartphone use is an
indicator of addiction (West et al., 2021). However, frequent use of smartphones, whether used
for work, study or just entertainment, is addictive. In accordance with the American
Psychiatric Association, addiction is a complex condition, a sort of brain disease that despite
the harmful effects is manifested by the compulsive use of psychoactive substances (APA,

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