The Mediating Effect of Internalized Shame and Ambivalence over Emotional Expression on the Relationship between Perceived Parental Psychological Control and Smartphone Addiction of College Students

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing smartphone addiction among college students. Methods This study hypothesized the influence of perceived parental psychological control on smarphone addciton and investigated the medating role of internalized shame and ambivalence over emotional expressiveness in the relationship between perceived parental psychological control and smartphone addiction. The Structural Equation Model was analyzed with the data collected from a sample of 400 college students over 18 years old. Results Results showed that perceived parental psychological control increased internalized shame that led to increased ambivalence over emotional expressiveness. This finding clarified the relationship between perceived parental psychological control and smartphone addiction among college students. Results also indicated specific and separate pathway of internalized shame, ambivalence over emotional expressiveness and smartphone addiction. Conclusions Current study discussed implications for counseling intervention with college students who experience smartphone addiction. Discussions also include strengths and limitations of current study and suggestions for future research.ess