Anxiety symptoms associated with problematic smartphone use severity: The mediation role of COVID-19 anxiety

Objectives: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is regarded as the biggest global health crisis in recent decades. changes major life domains due to infection control strategies resemble functional impairment consequential emotional distress and place many people at greater risk of psychiatric conditions. Meanwhile, COVID-19 associated social distancing have widely increased usage smartphone receive COVID-19-related information past year. However, excessive use smartphones has deleterious consequences. current study investigated general anxiety symptoms COVID-19-induced anxiety, their impact on problematic (PSPU) severity. Methods: Adults aged 18–75 years were recruited by stratified, probability sampling from a database representative population. Among 1080 Hong Kong Chinese (age years), cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted between July 23 August 25, 2020 (the period third wave outbreak Kong). Participants assessed with measures, including Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Generalized Disorder Scale-7, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version. Structural equation modeling (SEM) used evaluate associations among symptoms, severity PSPU Amos 22.0 software. Results: Using established cut-off scores, our results found that prevalence least moderate level around 22% participants. SEM, both Moreover, partially mediated relations predisposing Conclusion: This provides initial data mental status affected COVID-19. It also coping mechanism.