Applied Psychology

Applied Psychology

Structural Model of Smartphone Addiction and Social Anxiety: Mediating Role of Maladaptive Emotion Regulation Strategies and Avoidant Coping Style

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Reza Tamannaeifar 1
Mohammadreza Radmard 2
Azam Mansourinik 3
1 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran.
2 Ph.D. Student,, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kashan , Kashan, Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Kas.C., Islamic Azad University, Kashan, Iran.
10.48308/apsy.2026.241269.1889
Abstract
Aim: This study examined the structural relationship between social anxiety and smartphone addiction, with maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and avoidant coping style as mediating variables.

Method: This descriptive-correlational study employed structural equation modeling. The statistical population included students at Imam Khomeini International University of Qazvin in 1404. Two hundred participants were selected through convenience sampling. Measures included the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Coping Strategies Questionnaire, Smartphone Addiction Scale, and Social Phobia Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS, AMOS, and structural equation modeling techniques.

Results: The final structural model demonstrated acceptable fit indices and explained 46% of the variance in smartphone addiction. Although the direct effect of social anxiety on smartphone addiction was not significant, the indirect effects through maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and avoidant coping style were significant.

Conclusion: Social anxiety contributes indirectly to smartphone addiction through maladaptive cognitive-emotional and behavioral coping mechanisms. These findings emphasize the importance of targeting emotion regulation and avoidant coping in preventive and therapeutic interventions addressing problematic smartphone use among university students.
Keywords
Social Anxiety
Smartphone Addiction
Maladaptive Emotion Regulation Strategies
Avoidant Coping Style
Subjects
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