Kemal BAYTEMİR, Mehmet Buğra AKALIN
Addicta The Turkish Journal On Addictions - 2026;13(3):376-383
This study investigates protective factors that may mitigate smartphone addiction from a positive psychology perspective, emphasizing the role of self-regulatory strengths. Exploratory sequential mixed design was used in the study. In the qualitative phase, 13 university students with high smartphone use (one standard deviation above the mean) were selected from a sample of 84 and interviewed using semi-structured formats. Content analysis identified self-control, social relationships, physical activities, hobbies, and responsibilities as key factors in reducing smartphone use. In the quantitative phase, data were collected from 612 students (427 females, 185 males) using the Smartphone Addiction Inventory, Multidimensional Self-Control Scale, Social Relationships Scale, and Responsibility Scale. Structural model analysis revealed that, unlike in the qualitative findings, social relationships did not significantly correlate with smartphone addiction. While responsibility was linked to addiction, this relationship overlapped considerably with self-control. Overall, self-control emerged as a robust protective factor, highlighting its central role in promoting healthier smartphone use behaviors.
