SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-DETERMINATION OF PEOPLE ADDICTED TO TELEPHONES (RESEARCH RESULTS)
Rusudan Beridze
E-mail: r.beridze@bsu.edu.ge
Associate Professor, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University
Batumi, Georgia
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5374-2815
Sopiko Shantadze
E-mail:Sofoshantadze123@gmail.com
Clinical psychologist, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University
Batumi, Georgia
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4830-3552
Abstract. The integration of digital technologies into modern life has significantly changed the ways people communicate, obtain information, and express themselves. The smartphone, as the most frequently used digital device, has become not only a technological tool but also a space for social interaction and identity formation (Elhai, Levine, Dvorak, & Hall, 2017).
Smartphone use is particularly intense among those aged 18 to 30, demonstrating the deep integration of this device into the daily lives of young people and young adults (Pe59pw Research Center, 2021).
Despite the communicative opportunities offered by the digital space, a growing body of research points to problematic smartphone use and its possible negative impact on psychological functioning. In particular, there is growing interest in phenomena such as low self-esteem, persistent social comparison, and digital forms of self-affirmation (Panova & Carbonell, 2018). This study focuses on the relationship between smartphone addiction and self-esteem and self-efficacy in individuals aged 18 to 30. Exploring these relationships is important for both theoretical understanding and the design of psychological interventions.
The present study aims to examine the relationship between smartphone addiction, self- esteem, and self-affirmation among individuals aged 18 to 30. As smartphones have become deeply embedded in everyday life, concerns have arisen about their psychological impact. This research addresses a significant theoretical issue: the potential mediating role of self- esteem in the relationship between smartphone addiction and self-affirmation.
A total of 60 participants completed standardized instruments, including the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and a validated Georgian version of the Self-Affirmation Scale. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression models for mediation testing.
Findings revealed that higher smartphone addiction is negatively associated with self-esteem and positively related to self-affirmation. Regression analyses indicated that self-esteem mediates the relationship between smartphone addiction and self-affirmation. Additionally, age group comparisons (18–24 vs. 25–30) revealed subtle differences in these psychological factors.
The study provides practical implications for mental health professionals and educators, emphasizing the importance of interventions aimed at fostering internal self-worth and reducing overdependence on digital devices as a means of identity regulation.
Keywords: smartphone addiction, self-esteem, self-affirmation, mediation, young adults, psychological well-bein
JEL Classification: Y800
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