In the post-pandemic era, smartphone usage has become inextricably woven into the fabric of college life, transitioning from a convenience to a necessity for academic, social, and recreational purposes (Elhai et al., 2020). Recent data indicates that 89% of university students exhibit problematic smartphone use (PSU), characterized by compulsive checking behaviors and >5 hours daily screen time (Chen et al., 2021). While these devices facilitate connectivity, emerging neuropsychological evidence suggests excessive engagement—particularly passive scrolling and social media comparisons—triggers amygdala hyperactivity and cortisol dysregulation, establishing a biological pathway to anxiety disorders (Yang et al., 2022). This paradox of hyperconnection and psychological distress forms the critical context for our investigation.
The anxiety-smartphone usage relationship has gained empirical support through multiple longitudinal studies. A 3-year cohort analysis by Twenge et al. (2021) demonstrated that college students exceeding 3 hours daily screen time showed 34% higher GAD-7 anxiety scores than moderate users. However, these findings homogenize screen activities, overlooking crucial distinctions between app categories. For instance, productivity app usage correlates with lower stress biomarkers (salivary α-amylase levels) according to Lee et al. (2023), whereas social media engagement predicts increased rumination (β = 0.41, p < .001) in meta-analytic data (Huang & Zhang, 2022). This categorical variability underscores the need for granular analysis of digital behaviors.
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- PhD, RPsy, LPT Josephine Manapsal (Author), 2025, Digital Determinants of Anxiety. A Multivariate Regression Analysis of Screen Time, App Categories, and Usage Patterns among College Students in Metro Manila, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1592995
