Adolescents' loneliness and problematic smartphone use: The mediating role of upward social comparison and the moderating role of self-identity

Loneliness is an important risk factor for problematic smartphone use (PSU) among adolescents and the mechanisms underlying this correlation remain unclear. In this study, a moderated serial mediation model was tested by administering the Problematic Smartphone Use Scale for Chinese Adolescents, the Loneliness Scale (LS), the Upward Social Comparison Scale, the Fear of Missing Out Scale, and the Self-Identity Scale to 466 Chinese adolescents. The results showed that: (1) loneliness was positively correlated with PSU, (2) upward social comparison (USC) and fear of missing out served as sequential mediating factors in the correlation between loneliness and PSU, and (3) self-identity played a moderating role between USC and fear of missing out. These findings shed new light on developing strategies to prevent and intervene in adolescents' PSU by revealing the underlying mechanisms between loneliness and PSU. Loneliness is a key factor in problematic smartphone use (PSU) among adolescents. Reducing upward social comparison (USC) and the fear of missing out (FOMO) may deter lonely adolescents from PSU. Strengthening adolescents' self-identity may help weaken the link between USC and FOMO.