Lying flat to play on smartphone excessively: the role of self-esteem

Introduction With the rapid development of their countries, Chinese young people today face intense stress. Some cope by striving for high-quality resources (involution), while others adopt a passive approach, lowering their desires (lying flat). This study explores the relationship between lying flat and problematic smartphone use (PSU), focusing on the role of self-esteem. Methods We conducted three studies ( N = 886) using both cross-sectional (Study 1) and experimental (Study 2 and Study 3) designs to examine the correlational and causal links between lying flat, self-esteem, and PSU. Results The studies demonstrated a significant relationship between lying flat and PSU, with self-esteem serving as a mediator. Additionally, Study 3 showed a causal effect of self-esteem on smartphone use desire. Discussion These findings provide insight into why and how lying flat affects self-esteem and smartphone use behaviors and desires, highlighting the psychological mechanisms behind the trends observed in Chinese youth.