Alienation as Mediator and Moderator of the Relationship Between Virtues and Smartphone Addiction Among Chinese University Students

Research reports that high alienation can increase smartphone addiction; however, few studies have explored potential protective factors such as virtues. Understanding virtues as protective factors may help prevent smartphone addiction and promote effective interventions. This study examined the relationship among virtues (i.e. interpersonal, vitality, and conscientiousness), alienation and smartphone addiction. Seven hundred sixteen Chinese university students (385 males, 331 females) aged 18–24 years completed the 96-item Chinese Virtues Questionnaire, General Alienation Scale, and Mobile Phone Addiction Index. Results indicated that both interpersonal and conscientiousness virtues negatively predicted smartphone addiction. Alienation mediated the relationship between interpersonal and smartphone addiction, whereas conscientiousness directly affected smartphone addiction regardless of alienation level. Moreover, alienation moderated the link between conscientiousness and smartphone addiction. When students reported low alienation, those with high conscientiousness also reported lower smartphone addiction. However, there was no difference in smartphone addiction between high and low conscientiousness groups when alienation was high. This study clarified the positive role of specific virtues in reducing alienation and smartphone addiction. Future smartphone addiction intervention strategies could focus on enhancing interpersonal and conscientiousness virtues and reducing alienation. University administrators and educators should focus on improving low alienation students’ conscientiousness.