The Mediating Role of Self-differentiation in the Relationship between College Students' Cell Phone Dependence and Family Function

Purposes To explore the relationship between college students' family function, self-differentiation and mobile phone dependence. Methods Using convenient sampling, 430 undergraduates were selected from a college in Wuhan City. Questionnaires using Mobile Phone Dependency Index (MPAI), Family Function Rating Scale (FAD) and Self-Differentiated Questionnaire (DSI).Results The scores of boys' mobile phone dependence scores were significantly higher than those of girls. The grades of seniors were significantly higher than those of other grades. The family function and self-differentiation of the normal group were better than those of mobile phone dependent groups. The results of mediation regression analysis showed that the scores of self-differentiation were taken into consideration. The predictive function of family function on mobile phone dependence is significant but has weakened. Conclusion Self-differentiation has partial mediation in the relationship between family function and mobile phone dependence. Introduction Mobile phones have gradually become a necessary social tool that accompanies the growth of college students and have a profound impact on their psychosocial development [1]. The use of mobile phones by college students, especially mobile phone dependence, has attracted widespread attention. Mobile phone dependence mainly refers to the individual's uncontrolled use of mobile phones, so as to harm physical and mental health, affecting life, learning and work. Studies have shown that mobile phone dependents have poor overall social adaptability in real life and are more prone to social difficulties, anxiety, loneliness, and depression [2]. The family is an important place for individual growth. The most basic function of the family is to provide necessary conditions for the healthy development of family members' physiology, psychology and sociality [3]. Poor parent-child relationship can easily lead to college students' mobile phone dependence; family intimacy, contradiction, and organization are all family factors that affect college students' mobile phone dependence [4]. Self-differentiation is a core concept proposed by Bowen in the family system theory, which refers to the individual's degree of emotional attachment and independence in the family [5]. Self-differentiation can be regarded as the process and result of family interaction, and it is one of the most critical personality qualities for individual maturity and mental health [6]. This study considered the impact of family factors and individual development levels on college students' mobile phone dependence behaviors, introduced the three variables of family function, self-differentiation and mobile phone dependence, and assumed that the level of self-differentiation has an intermediary role in the influence of family function on mobile phone dependence behavior, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the exploration and intervention of college students' mobile phone dependence behavior. Methods Research Methods A sample survey was conducted from a university in Wuhan, and questionnaires were issued in class units. A total of 470 copies were distributed, and 430 valid questionnaires were collected. The recovery rate was 91.2%. Among them, there are 250 male students and 180 female students. The 4th International Conference on Social Science and Contemporary Humanity Development (SSCHD 2018) Copyright © 2019, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 281