Smartphone use and well-being

Smartphones and mobile internet connections make the internet and mobile applications accessible almost anytime and anywhere. Although smartphones undoubtedly make everyday life more convenient, they also entail numerous risks. Over the past decades, research has increasingly focused on the relationship between smartphone use and well-being. A consistent association has been found between problematic smartphone use and poorer well-being. However, the dynamic relationship between everyday smartphone use and well-being remains poorly understood. One possible reason is that smartphone use can have both positive consequences (e.g., maintaining social relationships, mood regulation, and entertainment) and negative consequences (e.g., procrastinating on other obligations and exposure to negative media content). In addition, individual differences may influence these relationships. The aim of the present study is to gain a better understanding of the reciprocal relationship between smartphone/media use and well-being. Participants report their smartphone use and mood every morning and evening over several consecutive days. The analyses focus on potential risk factors, such as procrastination tendencies and fear of missing out (FoMO), as well as protective factors, such as self-control, that may explain the relationship between smartphone use and well-being.