Gender and addiction to the mobile phone in gymnasium students

Objectives. The aim of this paper was to determine differences between girls and boys attending a gymnasium (junior high school) in the severity of symptoms of mobile phone addiction as measured using the KBUTK Questionnaire. Material and methods. The participants were 105 gymnasium students (65 girls and 36 boys) aged 13-16 years. The symptoms of mobile phone addiction were estimated using the Mobile Phone Addiction Assessment Questionnaire by Pawlowska and Potembska. Results and conclusions. 1. Girls more frequently than boys use the mobile phone to satisfy their need for acceptance and closeness and to make social contacts and express emotions. 2. Boys more frequently than girls want to have the newest model of a mobile phone and use the mobile phone to listen to music, take pictures and videos, play games, and connect to the Internet.