Nonlinear Association Between Smartphone Usage Duration and Online Social Anxiety: An Empirical Study Based on Chinese College Students

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between smartphone use duration and online social anxiety among Chinese college students, with particular focus on potential nonlinear characteristics. Using a cross-sectional design with questionnaire survey, data were collected from a sample of college students. Daily smartphone use duration was assessed through self-report measures, while online social anxiety was measured using the General Online Social Anxiety Inventory Scale (GAAIS). Descriptive statistics revealed that participants used smartphones for an average of 6.83 hours daily (SD = 2.76) with a multimodal distribution, and had a mean online social anxiety score of 30.31 (SD = 10.14). As the data did not meet normality assumptions, Spearman's rank correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationship between variables. Results indicated a weak positive correlation between smartphone use duration and online social anxiety (ρ = 0.192, p < .001), with a notable nonlinear pattern: in the low to moderate usage range (1-6 hours), anxiety levels increased with usage time, while in the high usage range (>6 hours), this association plateaued, demonstrating a "saturation effect." These findings challenge the simple linear assumption that "more usage leads to higher anxiety" and support a more complex relationship model. The results provide important implications for developing smartphone use guidelines and targeted mental health interventions for college students. Future research should explore the differential impact of various usage purposes and patterns on social anxiety, as well as potential mediating or moderating mechanisms in this relationship.