Individuation in Relation to Addictive Mobile Phone and Social Media Use Chris Bjornsen Department of Psychology, Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences, Longwood University U.S.A.

Introduction The present study investigated relations between addictive and socially disruptive mobile phone and social media use and individuation. Individuation (Komidar et al., 2016) – autonomy-connectedness in parent-child relationship Cell phone addiction (Roberts, Yaya, & Manolis, 2014). CPA driven by a desire to connect socially. Related to Larry Rosen (2013) - “iDisorder.” Narcissism, obsessive/compulsive traits. Social media addiction (Karadag et al., 2015) – predictor of phubbing Phubbing (Roberts & David, 2016) – phone snubbing – cell phone use interferes with face-to-face interaction and intimate relationships

Methods Participants - University students recruited through classes at a medium-sized University in the Mid-Atlantic region in the U.S. Ps completed an online questionnaire at a time of their own choosing during the Fall of 2015 N = 415; 78% females (n=323), 22% males (n=92) Mage = 19.93 years (Range 18-25 yrs) Ethnicity: n % Caucasian 323 78% African-American 56 14% Latino-American 12 3% Asian-American 6 1% Other 18 4%

Methods Full questionnaire: Demographics (14) Cell phone use – original items (4) Phubbing (Roberts & David, 2016) (9) Phubbing (Karadag, 2015) (1) Cell Phone Addiction scale (Manolis & Roberts, 2014) (4) Cell phone addiction (Fargues, 2009) (5) Social Media Addiction (Karadag, 2015) (10) Stigma of Mental Illness (King et al., 2007) (39) ITEA-S (Komidar et al., 2016) (21 M/F; 42 total) Total items = 128

Methods Phubbing Scale (All 9 items, Modified from Pphubbing Scale, Roberts & David, 2016). (5-point Likert scale, 1 = Never…5 = All the time) During a typical mealtime that I spend with other people, I pull out and check my cell phone I place my cell phone where I can see it when I am with other people. I keep my phone in my hand when I am with other people. When my cell phone rings or beeps, I pull it out even if I am in the middle of a conversation with someone else. I glance at my cell phone when others are talking to me. During leisure time that I spend with other people, I use my cell phone. I do not use my cell phone when I am talking to someone else. (R) I use my cell phone when I am out together with others. If there is a lull in our conversation, I will check my cell phone.

Methods Cell Phone Addiction Scale (All 4 items, MRCPAS – Roberts et al., (2014) (7-point Likert scale. 1 = Strongly disagree, 7 = Strongly agree) I get agitated when my cell phone is not in sight. I get nervous when my cell phone’s battery is almost exhausted. I spend more time than I should on my cell phone. I find that I am spending more and more time on my cell phone.

Methods Social Media Addiction (All 10 items, Karadag et al., 2015). (5-point Likert scale. 1 = Never, 5 = Always.) I check over my social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook) accounts even if I have something else to do I check over my social media accounts whenever possible. I share things I've done, what is going on in life, and momentary events on social media I follow activities, momentary events, popular videos, and trendy topics in social media. I check the accounts of the people I know in social media. I check the accounts of the people I don’t know in social media. I communicate with my friends through social media rather than talk to them face to face. I wonder whether or not my friends read my posts. I follow daily events and current affairs using social networks. I prefer to use social media rather than watch television.

Results

Results Phubbing, cell phone addiction, and social media addiction were significantly higher among females than males.

Results

Results More intrusiveness, fear of disappointing M, and less self-reliance = more problematic cell phone use. More support-seeking with F = less cell phone use.

Discussion Individuation (maturity) associated in predictable ways with CPaddiction, SMaddiction, Phubbing. Higher individuation associated with less problematic cell phone / social media use. Higher cell phone / social media use and phubbing by females may partly explain why individuation is more strongly related to male cell/social media/phubbing – simply not as strong a predictor among females. (Current/future research – relations between individuation and CP/SM addiction, gossiping, “creeping,” and more positive use of SM)

Symposium abstract Individuation in Relation to Addictive Mobile Phone and Social Media Use. Chris Bjornsen (Department of Psychology, Longwood University, Farmville, U.S.A.). The present study investigated relations between addictive and socially disruptive mobile phone and social media use and individuation. Participants (N = 416; 78% females, 22% males, Mage = 19.93 years) completed an online questionnaire including the ITEA-S and measures of mobile phone addiction, phubbing (“phone snubbing”), and social media addiction. Mobile phone addiction, phubbing, and social media addiction were significantly higher among females than males. Female mobile phone and social media addiction were associated with higher levels of intrusiveness in relation to mothers, and lower connectedness with fathers. Male mobile phone and social media addiction and phubbing were related to higher fear of disappointing mothers, and higher levels of intrusiveness with mothers and fathers; higher addiction and phubbing scores were also related to lower self-reliance in relation to mothers and fathers, and lower support-seeking in relation to fathers. The results suggest that the use of mobile phones in an addictive, socially disruptive manner is related to the degree to which emerging adults, especially males, have navigated the individuation process of emerging adulthood. (1 case was a duplicate and was dropped. N = 415)