Child Health Nurs Res.  2015 Jan;21(1):55-63. 10.4094/chnr.2015.21.1.55.

Cell Phone Addiction in School-Age Children and Related Factors

• Koo HY
• Kim EJ

• KMID: 2271273
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4094/chnr.2015.21.1.55

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify cell phone addiction in school-age children and factors influencing addiction.
METHODS
The participants were 163 parents of elementary school students in the 1st to 4th grades. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires completed by the parents, and analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 19.0 IBM program.
RESULTS
Of the children, 86.5% were reported as being average users, 9.2%, at risk users, and 4.3%, at high risk users. Cell phone addiction in the children was significantly different according to games played by the children and parents' monthly income. Significant factors influencing cell phone addiction in the children were children's self-control, games played by the children, parents' cell phone addiction and parental control for children's cell phone use, explaining 24% of variance in cell phone addiction.
CONCLUSION
The findings indicate that cell phone addiction in school-age children is influenced by parent-related factors as well as personal factors. Therefore approaches to education programs on cell phone use in school-age children should include parent-related factors as well as personal factors of the children.

Keyword

Children; Cell phone; Addictive behavior; Parents

MeSH Terms

Behavior, Addictive
Cellular Phone*
Child*
Education
Humans
Parents
Surveys and Questionnaires