Effects of materialism on problematic smartphone dependency among adolescents: The role of gender and gratifications. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gentina, Elodie; Rowe, Frantz
• Is Part Of: International journal of information management. Volume 54(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Digital natives adolescents -- Youth materialism -- Problematic smartphone dependency -- Social-oriented smartphone use -- Gender effect -- Gratifications -- Process-oriented smartphone use; Social sciences -- Information services -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Information science -- Periodicals; Management information systems -- Periodicals; Knowledge management -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Documentation, Services de -- Périodiques; Sciences sociales -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Sciences de l'information -- Périodiques; Systèmes d'information de gestion -- Périodiques; Information science; Management information systems; Social sciences -- Information services; Social sciences -- Research; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 025.52068
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102134
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-4012

Abstract

Highlights: Paper argues for the concept of Problematic Smartphone Dependency (PSD). Model explains PSD by materialism mediated by use gratifications at adolescence. Model is consistent with I-PACE model, gratification theory and social role theory. Both social-oriented and process-oriented smartphone use are influenced by gender. Gender moderates the relationship between materialism and PSD for teenagers. Abstract: We study youth materialism as an antecedent of problematic smartphone dependency among adolescents. Based on Uses and Gratifications theory and the I-PACE framework, we consider process- and social-oriented smartphones as mediators in the relationship between youth materialism and problematic smartphone dependency. Using data from 463 French late adolescents (mean 16.8 years; 58 % female), known as digital natives, we demonstrate that paths differ depending on gender. For girls, youth materialism is positively related to problematic smartphone dependency via social-oriented smartphone use, whereas this relationship is nonsignificant for boys. Moreover, youth materialism is positively related to problematic smartphone dependency via process-oriented smartphone use for both boys and girls, but the relationship is stronger for boys than for girls. We discuss the implications of these results for business and social policies.