The Conceptual Model on Smart Phone Addiction among Early Childhood

Abstract

This study examined the antecedents and consequences of children's smart phone addiction. Antecedents of smart phone addiction among children were divided into parental variables and child variables. When parents' education/income/age is higher, dual-income family, the longer parents themselves use smart phones, permissive parenting style, and positive attitudes towards smart phone, children tend to have higher possibility to be addicted to smart phones. Related to child variables, younger children, boys, less siblings, and not attending education institution, predict smart phone addiction. Children with smart phone addiction show problems in mental and physical development. The implications and further study are suggested based on the conceptual model.