Adolescents’ Perception About the Relationship Between Self-Reported Smartphone Addiction and Emotional and Behavioral Problems During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study aimed to understand adolescents’ perception about the relationship between Self-Reported Smartphone Addiction and Emotional and Behavioral Problems in the COVID-19 pandemic context. The qualitative research was conducted in Brazil with 16 adolescents aged from 15 to 18 years old classified with smartphone addiction by Smartphone Addiction Inventory scale. Data were collected through focus group meetings and prepared by means of Bardin’s content analysis. The findings resulted in two categories that describe how adolescents escape from the reality imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic using smartphones and how they perceive the emotional and behavioral changes caused by this addiction. They develop this behavior seeking to alleviate negative emotions and to escape from reality, but this relief is momentary and ineffective, as this addictive relationship proves to accentuate emotional distress.