Effects of online and offline social support on problematic smartphone use among Chinese adolescents: mediating role of needs frustration

This study examined the effects of online and offline social support on adolescents’ problematic smartphone use and its underlying mechanisms through basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration. 1031 Chinese adolescents (47% female, Mage = 13.67) participated in this research. Structural equation modelling was used to test a parallel mediation model. Results showed online social support was associated with problematic smartphone use directly (β = 0.104, p < 0.01) and indirectly (β = 0.024, p < 0.05) through basic psychological needs frustration. Offline social support has little impact on adolescents’ problematic smartphone use (β = −0.006, p = 0.912). The findings warrant practitioners to stay vigilant against adolescents’ reliance on online social support and encourage them to engage in more face-to-face activities in order to meet their psychological needs and prevent problematic smartphone use.