Influence of Adolescent Attachment to Parents on Addiction to Smart phone: Mediation Effect brought in by Self-esteem

The purpose of this study is to verify if self-esteem plays a role in relation to adolescent attachment to parents perceived by them and smart phone addiction. To fulfil its objective, the current study targeted 984 smart phone users from the data of year 2015 adolescent addiction to smart phone in Seongnam-si to measure the level of self-esteem, attachment to parents and addiction to smart phone. Also, based on its theoretical background, a mediation model was set using measured variables for regression analysis. Results of this study are as follow; first, level of adolescent addiction to smart phone were the same between boys and girls. Second, adolescent attachment to parents and self-esteem both negatively affected addiction to smart phone. Third, self-esteem showed partial mediation effect in relation between attachment to parents and addiction to smart phone. The more stable their attachment to parents was, the higher their self-esteem got and elevated self-esteem lowered adolescent addiction to smart phone. Conclusively, attachment to parents directly affected the addiction to smart phone and even self-esteem mediation had indirect grip on smart phone addiction. Lastly, what these results may mean was discussed along with the indications and limitations shown in this study.