The effect of reinforcement experience of smartphone usage on smartphone addiction tendency of undergraduate students: The moderated mediation role of self-regulation and interpersonal ability

Objectives The purpose of this study was to verify the mediating effect of self-regulation and the moderating effect of interpersonal orientation in the influence of college students' reinforcement experience on smartphone addiction tendency. Methods To study this, a moderated mediating effect analysis was conducted on 437 people aged 19 to 25 to measure the moderated mediating effect role of self-regulation and interpersonal ability between the effect of reinforcement experience of smartphone usage on smartphone addiction tendency. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and correlation analysis were performed using SPSS 25, and SPSS Process Macro (MODEL 14) verified the moderated mediation role of self-regulationl and interpersonal ability between reinforcement experience of smartphone usage on smartphone and addiction tendency. Results The research results on this are as follows. First, the relationship between reinforcement experience of smartphone usage on smartphone and addiction tendency was significant. Second, the mediating effect of self-regulation was significant in the relationship between reinforcement experience and addiction tendency. Third, the moderated mediating effect in the relationship between self-regulation and smartphone addiction tendency was significant. Conclusions Based on this study, it was confirmed that self-regulation and interpersonal ability affects smartphone addiction tendency, suggesting that treatment plans should be established from various perspectives.