Self-control mediation on the relationship between personal growth initiative and smartphone addiction among Chinese university students

We examined the role of self-control in the relationship between personal growth initiative and smartphone addiction among university students. A convenience sample of 783 Chinese students (female = 75.7%; mean age = 20.34 years, SD = 1.44 years) completed measures of personal growth initiative, self-control, and smartphone addiction. Hierarchical regression and bootstrapping analyses indicated that those self-reporting with personal growth also reported a lower risk for smartphone addiction. A sense of good self-control mediated the relationship between personal growth initiative and risk for smartphone addiction, lowering the risk for smart phone addiction among those with a higher sense of self-control. The findings highlight the importance of personal growth initiative and self-control in reducing risk for smartphone addiction problems among university students.