Problematic Smartphone Use and Aggressive Behavior Among University Students: The Mediating role of Sleep Disturbance

Background: Despite a number of benefits, research has found that problematic smartphone use is positively associated with behavioral problems. However, the internal mechanisms underlying that relationship need further investigation. So, the aim of current study was to investigate the mediating role of sleep disturbance in the relationship between problematic smartphone use and aggression. Methods: The research design was descriptive – correlational. From the male university students’ population of Islamic Azad University of South Tehran Branch in academic year of 1398-1399, a total of 213 participants from two faculties (Human Sciences Faculty and Law and Political Sciences Faculty) were selected using convenience sampling method and were tested by Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), Smartphone addiction scale-short version (SAS-SV), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). To analyze the data Pearson correlation and path analysis were conducted. Results: The results showed that direct effect of problematic smartphone use on aggression (β= 0.12, P<0.05), direct effect of sleep quality on aggression (β= 0.37, P<0.001), and the direct effect problematic smartphone use on sleep disturbance (β= 0.42, P<0.001) were significantly positive. Also, results showed that the mediating role sleep quality in the relationship between problematic smartphone use and aggression was significant (β= 0.15, P<0.01). Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that problematic smartphone use and sleep disturbance are two important factors affecting university students’ aggressive behavior. So, these findings highlighted the critical role of early intervention for aggression with a focus on those with problematic smartphone use and, more specifically on those with sleep disturbance.