Experiential avoidance as a prospective mediator of the relationship between problematic smartphone use and autistic traits, theory of mind: Temporal mediation models

IF 3.6 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Addictive behaviors Pub Date : 2025-09-29 DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108509

Gizem Gerdan , Özge Akgül , Yılmaz Orhun Gürlük

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The increasing use of smartphones has raised concerns about adverse psychological and social-cognitive outcomes among young people. This study aimed to prospectively examine the relationships between problematic smartphone use (PSU), experiential avoidance (EA), screen time, autistic traits (ATs), and theory of mind (ToM), and to test the mediating role of EA within a temporal design. Data were collected prospectively from 219 young adults (aged 18–35; M = 20.66, SD = 2.15) across three measurement points at one-week intervals. At Time 1 (T1), participants reported their weekly screen time and completed baseline measures of PSU, ATs, and ToM. At Time 2 (T2), the measure of EA was administered. At Time 3 (T3), final measures of ATs and ToM were administered. The results indicated that higher levels of PSU at T1 prospectively predicted an increase in EA at T2, which in turn prospectively predicted higher levels of ATs and lower levels of ToM at T3. Similarly, greater screen time at T1 also prospectively predicted an increase in EA at T2, leading to higher levels of ATs and lower levels of ToM at T3. The results indicate that experiential avoidance prospectively plays a mediating role in the relationship between PSU, screen time, ToM, and ATs. In the context of today’s increasing digital addiction tendencies, these findings suggest that EA is a potentially important transdiagnostic variable to consider in assessments and interventions aimed at supporting socio-cognitive and emotional functioning.

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经验回避作为问题智能手机使用与自闭症特征之间关系的潜在中介，心理理论：时间中介模型

智能手机的使用越来越多，引发了人们对年轻人不良心理和社会认知后果的担忧。本研究旨在前瞻性研究问题智能手机使用（PSU）、经验回避（EA）、屏幕时间、自闭症特征（ATs）和心理理论（ToM）之间的关系，并在时间设计中测试EA的中介作用。前瞻性地收集了219名年轻人（18-35岁，M = 20.66, SD = 2.15）在三个测点的数据，每隔一周收集一次。在时间1 (T1)，参与者报告他们每周的屏幕时间，并完成PSU， At和ToM的基线测量。时间2 (T2)，测量EA。在第3期（T3），进行ATs和ToM的最终测量。结果表明，T1时较高的PSU水平可以预测T2时EA的升高，而EA的升高反过来又可以预测T3时较高的ATs水平和较低的ToM水平。同样，T1时更长的屏幕时间也预示着T2时EA的增加，从而导致T3时ATs水平升高和ToM水平降低。结果表明，体验回避在PSU、屏幕时间、ToM和ATs之间的关系中起着中介作用。在当今日益增长的数字成瘾趋势的背景下，这些发现表明，在旨在支持社会认知和情感功能的评估和干预中，EA是一个潜在的重要的跨诊断变量。

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来源期刊

Addictive behaviors 医学-药物滥用

CiteScore

8.40

自引率

4.50%

发文量

283

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Addictive Behaviors is an international peer-reviewed journal publishing high quality human research on addictive behaviors and disorders since 1975. The journal accepts submissions of full-length papers and short communications on substance-related addictions such as the abuse of alcohol, drugs and nicotine, and behavioral addictions involving gambling and technology. We primarily publish behavioral and psychosocial research but our articles span the fields of psychology, sociology, psychiatry, epidemiology, social policy, medicine, pharmacology and neuroscience. While theoretical orientations are diverse, the emphasis of the journal is primarily empirical. That is, sound experimental design combined with valid, reliable assessment and evaluation procedures are a requisite for acceptance. However, innovative and empirically oriented case studies that might encourage new lines of inquiry are accepted as well. Studies that clearly contribute to current knowledge of etiology, prevention, social policy or treatment are given priority. Scholarly commentaries on topical issues, systematic reviews, and mini reviews are encouraged. We especially welcome multimedia papers that incorporate video or audio components to better display methodology or findings. Studies can also be submitted to Addictive Behaviors? companion title, the open access journal Addictive Behaviors Reports, which has a particular interest in ''non-traditional'', innovative and empirically-oriented research such as negative/null data papers, replication studies, case reports on novel treatments, and cross-cultural research.