21/07/2025
Read the new paper: https://bit.ly/46RpRDi
"Personality and Smartphone Addiction in Romania’s Digital Age: The Mediating Role of Professional Status and the Moderating Effect of Adaptive Coping"
Author: Daniela-Elena Lițan from West University of Timișoara
The study investigates how core personality traits—Extraversion, Maturity, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Self-actualization—are linked to smartphone addiction in Romanian adults. It explores both direct relationships and more complex mechanisms, including the mediating role of professional status and the moderating effect of adaptive coping strategies. Maturity consistently predicts lower levels of smartphone addiction, while traits like Extraversion and Self-actualization influence addiction indirectly through one’s professional context. Additionally, Agreeableness becomes a significant protective factor only when adaptive coping is taken into account. These findings suggest that the shift from regular to problematic smartphone use can be subtle and shaped by both psychological traits and life circumstances. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of digital behavior and may inform strategies for promoting healthier technology use and better work-life balance.