Factors Associated with Problematic Mobile Phone Use among Sub-Saharan African Populations: Moderating Effect of Gender

This paper examines the relationship between problematic mobile phone use and factors including anxiety, depression, overuse, social identity, cyber-orientation, disturbance in daily life, materialism, need for touch, positive anticipation, tolerance, and withdrawal. This study also explores the moderating effect of gender. Participants include 751 mobile phone/smartphone users predominantly from Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, and South Africa. Data models revealed significant positive relationships between problematic mobile phone use and depression, disturbance in daily life, withdrawal, overuse, cyber-orientation, positive anticipation, and need for touch. Gender analysis reported significant positive relationships for men and women between problematic mobile phone use and cyber-orientation, depression, positive anticipation, and withdrawal. The men model found positive relationships with disturbance in daily life and need for touch. The women model revealed a significant association with overuse. Guided by the study findings, we provided design recommendations to facilitate the development of mobile technologies and behavior change interventions within the context of several African countries.