Effects of Children’s Social Withdrawal on Smartphone Dependence: Mediating Effect of Academic Engagement

The purpose of this study was to verify the mediating effect of academic engagement in the relationship between social withdrawal and smartphone dependence in children. In this study, data from the second year of the 4th grade panel of the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey 2018 (KCYPS 2018) were used. The subjects of the study were 2,321 children (1,152 boys, 1,169 girls) in the 5th grade of elementary school. The results of this study were as follows: First, there was a positive correlation between children's social withdrawal and smartphone dependence, and a negative correlation between academic engagement and social withdrawal and smartphone dependence. Second, an indirect effect of academic enthusiasm was found in the relationship between social withdrawal and smartphone dependence. This confirmed that the academic engagement of the children was a partial mediator in the relationship between social withdrawal and smartphone dependence. Based on these results, this study suggests specific support methods to reduce smartphone dependence in children and practical implications at the preventive level