Sense of security and problematic mobile phone use among freshmen: the mediating role of negative attention bias and the moderating role of relatedness needs satisfaction

Based on the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological internet use and the risk buffering model, the current study explored how and when the sense of security reduces problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) among Chinese freshmen. Specifically, we investigated the underlying mechanism of PMPU by testing a moderated mediation model, in which relatedness needs satisfaction moderated the mediating role of negative attention bias on the relation between sense of security and PMPU. A sample of 458 freshmen in China (76.20% females), with a mean age of 19.58 years (SD = 1.03, range = 16–23), were surveyed using the sense of security scale, the attention to negative information subscale, the relatedness needs satisfaction subscale, and the mobile phone addiction index. Mediation analysis indicated the sense of security decreased freshmen’ PMPU by reducing negative attention bias. Moderated mediation analysis further demonstrated that high relatedness needs satisfaction ameliorated the adverse impact of negative attention bias on PMPU among freshmen, while low relatedness needs satisfaction sharpened the adverse impact of negative attention bias on PMPU among freshmen. This study highlights the mediating and moderating mechanisms linking the sense of security to PMPU. More importantly, it has prominent implications for the prevention and intervention of PMPU among freshmen.