The Relationship Between Boredom Proneness And Problematic Smartphone Use Among Adolescents
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Adolescents are an age group with high levels of smartphone use, making them susceptible to problematic smartphone use. One psychological factor believed to play a role in this condition is boredom proneness, which is an individual’s tendency to become easily bored. Adolescents with high levels of boredom tend to use smartphones as a means of distraction, which, if uncontrolled, can have a negative impact on daily activities. This study aims to determine the relationship between boredom proneness and problematic smartphone use among adolescents in Indonesia. A quantitative correlational approach was used. The sample consisted of 280 adolescents aged 12–18 years, comprising 214 females and 66 males, selected via purposive sampling. The research instruments used were the Short Boredom Proneness Scale and the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version. Data were analyzed using the Pearson Product-Moment correlation test. The results of the analysis indicated a significant positive relationship between boredom proneness and problematic smartphone use, with a correlation coefficient of r = .693 and a significance level of p < .05. These findings suggest that the higher the level of boredom proneness among adolescents, the higher the level of problematic smartphone use. Thus, boredom proneness is one of the psychological factors contributing to the emergence of problematic smartphone use among adolescents.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Abbasi, G. A., Jagaveeran, M., Goh, Y. N., & Tariq, B. (2021). The impact of type of content use on smartphone addiction and academic performance: Physical activity as moderator. Technology in Society, 64(December 2020), 101521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101521
Amiro, Z., & Laka, L. (2023). Pengaruh boredom proneness terhadap perilaku phubbing pada remaja di Desa Sekarmojo Kecamatan Purwosari Kab. Pasuruan. Liberosis: Jurnal Psikologi Dan Bimbingan Konseling, 1(1), 1–17.
Asosiasi Penyelenggara Jasa Internet Indonesia. (2025). Survei penggunaan internet Indonesia 2025. https://survei.apjii.or.id/survei/group/12
Aydn, B., & Sar, S. V. (2011). Internet addiction among adolescents: The role of self-esteem. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 3500–3505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.04.325
Baumeister, R. F., Heatherton, T. F., & Tice, D. M. (1994). Losing Control: How and Why People Fail at Self-Regulation. Academic Press.
Baumeister, R. F., & Vohs, K. D. (2003). Self regulation and the excecutive function of the self. In J. P. Leary, Mark R; Tangney (Ed.), Hanbook of Self and Identify (pp. 197–217). Guiford Press.
Beaton, D. E., Bombardier, C., Guillemin, F., & Ferraz, M. B. (2000). Guidelines for the Process of Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Self-Report Measures. Spine, 25(4), 3186–3191. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-200012150-00014
Billieux, J., Maurage, P., Lopez-Fernandez, O., Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). Can Disordered Mobile Phone Use Be Considered a Behavioral Addiction? An Update on Current Evidence and a Comprehensive Model for Future Research. Current Addiction Reports, 2(2), 156–162. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-015-0054-y
Bozaci, I. (2020). The Effect of Boredom Proneness on Smartphone Addiction and Impulse Purchasing : A Field Study with Young Consumers in Turkey. 7(7), 509–517. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2020.vol7.no7.509
Busch, P. A., & McCarthy, S. (2021). Antecedents and consequences of problematic smartphone use: A systematic literature review of an emerging research area. Computers in Human Behavior, 114(September 2020), 106414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106414
Canale, N., Pancani, L., Pivetta, E., Moretta, T., Marino, C., Buodo, G., Vieno, A., Dalmaso, M., & Billieux, J. (2023). Heterogeneity of smartphone impact on everyday life and its relationship with personality and psychopathology: A latent profile analysis. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 120(November 2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152356
Chen, B., Liu, F., Ding, S., Ying, X., Wang, L., & Wen, Y. (2017). Gender differences in factors associated with smartphone addiction: A cross-sectional study among medical college students. BMC Psychiatry, 17(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1503-z
Chiu, S. I. (2014). The relationship between life stress and smartphone addiction on taiwanese university student: A mediation model of learning self-Efficacy and social self-Efficacy. Computers in Human Behavior, 34, 49–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.01.024
Cho, Y. G. (2020). Excessive and problematic smartphone use and poor mental health in adolescents. Korean Journal of Family Medicine, 41(2), 73–74. https://doi.org/10.4082/KJFM.41.2E
Danal, P. H., Simon, M. G., & Osong, G. A. (2022). Intensitas penggunaan smartphone dan performa akademik remaja: sebuah studi korelasi. Jurnal Ilmiah Keperawatan Indonesia (JIKI), 6(1), 70–79.
Elhai, J. D., Dvorak, R. D., Levine, J. C., & Hall, B. J. (2017). Problematic smartphone use: A conceptual overview and systematic review of relations with anxiety and depression psychopathology. Journal of Affective Disorders, 207, 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.08.030
Elhai, J. D., Vasquez, J. K., Lustgarten, S. D., Levine, J. C., & Hall, B. J. (2018). Proneness to Boredom Mediates Relationships Between Problematic Smartphone Use With Depression and Anxiety Severity. Social Science Computer Review, 36(6), 707–720. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439317741087
Field, A. (2013). Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics. In Sage edge (5 TH Editi).
Gezgin, D. M. (2025). Unveiling the Mediating Role of Boredom Proneness in the Relationship Between FoMO and Problematic Smartphone Use Among Undergraduates. ADDICTA: The Turkish Journal on Addictions. https://doi.org/10.5152/addicta.2025.25519
Han, L., Geng, J., Jou, M., Gao, F., & Yang, H. (2017). Relationship between shyness and mobile phone addiction in Chinese young adults: Mediating roles of self-control and attachment anxiety. Computers in Human Behavior, 76, 363–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.07.036
Jiang, Z., & Shi, M. (2016). Prevalence and co-occurrence of compulsive buying, problematic Internet and mobile phone use in college students in Yantai, China: relevance of self-traits. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3884-1
Kardefelt-winther, D. (2014). Computers in Human Behavior A conceptual and methodological critique of internet addiction research : Towards a model of compensatory internet use. Computers in Human Behavior, 31, 351–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.10.059
Koç, H., Şimşir Gökalp, Z., & Elhai, J. D. (2025). Problematic Smartphone Use Among Turkish Adults: Latent Profiles and Links to Self-Control, Boredom Proneness, and Procrastination. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 0123456789. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-024-01436-4
Kwon, M., Lee, J. Y., Won, W. Y., Park, J. W., Min, J. A., Hahn, C., Gu, X., Choi, J. H., & Kim, D. J. (2013). Development and Validation of a Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS). PLoS ONE, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0056936
Lemola, S., Perkinson-Gloor, N., Brand, S., Dewald-Kaufmann, J. F., & Grob, A. (2015). Adolescents’ Electronic Media Use at Night, Sleep Disturbance, and Depressive Symptoms in the Smartphone Age. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44(2), 405–418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-014-0176-x
Lepp, A., Barkley, J. E., & Karpinski, A. C. (2014). The relationship between cell phone use, academic performance, anxiety, and Satisfaction with Life in college students. Computers in Human Behavior, 31(1), 343–350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.10.049
Leung, L. (2008). Linking psychological attributes to addiction and improper use of the mobile phone among adolescents in Hong Kong. Journal of Children and Media, 2(2), 93–113.
Li, X. (2021). Loneliness and Mobile Phone Addiction Among Chinese College Students : The Mediating Roles of Boredom Proneness and Self-Control. 687–694.
Maharani, D. P., Dewi2, A. A. N. T. N., & Dewi, N. N. A. (2019). THE EFFECT OF DURATION OF SMARTPHONE USAGE AND LEVEL OF SMARTPHONE ADDICTION ON. 32–35.
Marini, L., Hendriani, W., & Wulandari, P. Y. (2024). Gambaran Problematic Smartphone Use Pada Remaja. Psikobuletin:Buletin Ilmiah Psikologi, 5(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.24014/pib.v5i1.26477
Marini, L., Hendriani, W., & Wulandari, P. Y. (2025). Validation of the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) for Measuring Problematic Smartphone Use in Indonesian Adolescents. KnE Social Sciences, 10(9), 255–269. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v10i9.18498
Meherali, S., Punjani, N., Louie-poon, S., Rahim, K. A., Das, J. K., Salam, R. A., & Lassi, Z. S. (2021). Mental Health of Children and Adolescents Amidst COVID-19 and Past Pandemics : A Rapid Systematic Review.
Mugon, J., Boylan, J., & Danckert, J. (2020). Boredom proneness and self-control as unique risk factors in achievement settings. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(23), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17239116
Nufus, P. N., Fitri, S., & Wirasti, M. K. (2020). Penggunaan Smartphone Bermasalah Pada Siswa SMA Serta Implikasinya Bagi Pelayanan Bimbingan dan Konseling di Sekolah. ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan Dan Konseling Islam), 3(2), 96–105. https://doi.org/10.32505/enlighten.v3i2.1941
Orsolini, L., Longo, G., & Volpe, U. (2023). The Mediatory Role of the Boredom and Loneliness Dimensions in the Development of Problematic Internet Use. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054446
Peng, N., Sun, Q., Li, Z., Xia, X., & Li, Y. (2025). The relationship between problematic mobile phone use and meaning in life among adolescents : a latent profile analyses.
Pereira, F. S., Guimara, G., Coimbra, D. R., & Andrade, A. (2020). Impact of Problematic Smartphone Use on Mental Health of Adolescent Students : 00(00), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2019.0257
Rozgonjuk, D., Kattago, M., & Täht, K. (2018). Social media use in lectures mediates the relationship between procrastination and problematic smartphone use. Computers in Human Behavior, 89, 191–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.08.003
Sawyer, S. M., Azzopardi, P. S., Wickremarathne, D., & Patton, G. C. (2018). The age of adolescence. The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, 2(3), 223–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(18)30022-1
Sohn, S. Y., Rees, P., Wildridge, B., Kalk, N. J., & Carter, B. (2021). Correction to: Prevalence of problematic smartphone usage and associated mental health outcomes amongst children and young people: a systematic review, meta-analysis and GRADE of the evidence (BMC Psychiatry, (2019), 19, 1, (356), 10.1186/s12888-019-2350-. BMC Psychiatry, 21(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02986-2
Struk, A. A., Carriere, J. S. A., Cheyne, J. A., & Danckert, J. (2017). A Short Boredom Proneness Scale: Development and Psychometric Properties. Assessment, 24(3), 346–359. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191115609996
Struk, A. A., Scholer, A. A., & Danckert, J. (2015). A self-regulatory approach to understanding boredom proneness. July. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2015.1064363
Sugiyono. (2017). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif Kualitatif Dan R&D. Alfabeta.
Tao, S., Wu, X., Zhang, S., Tong, S., Hao, J., & Tao, F. (2017). Association of alcohol use with problematic mobile phone use and depressive symptoms among college students in Anhui, China. Journal of Public Health (Germany), 25(1), 103–112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-016-0766-z
UNICEF. (2017). A state of World’s Children: Children in a digital world.
Van Deursen, A. J. A. M., Bolle, C. L., Hegner, S. M., & Kommers, P. A. M. (2015). Modeling habitual and addictive smartphone behavior: The role of smartphone usage types, emotional intelligence, social stress, self-regulation, age, and gender. Computers in Human Behavior, 45, 411–420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.12.039
Vodanovich, S. J., & Watt, J. D. (2016). Self-report measures of boredom: An updated review of the literature. Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, 150(2), 194–226. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2015.1074531
Wang, J., Wang, P., Yang, X., Zhang, G., Wang, X. C., Zhao, F., Zhao, M., & Lei, L. (2019). Fear of Missing Out and Procrastination as Mediators Between Sensation Seeking and Adolescent Smartphone Addiction. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 17(4), 1049–1062. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00106-0
Wang, Y., Yang, H., Montag, C., & Elhai, J. D. (2020). Boredom proneness and rumination mediate relationships between depression and anxiety with problematic smartphone use severity. Current Psychology, 41(8), 5287–5297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01052-0
Wardani, A. S. (2016). Menilik Perkembangan Smartphone dari Masa ke Masa. Liputan6.Com. https://www.liputan6.com/tekno/read/2669811/menilik-perkembangan-smartphone-dari-masa-ke-masa?page=2
Wickord, L. C., & Quaiser-Pohl, C. M. (2022). Does the Type of Smartphone Usage Behavior Influence Problematic Smartphone Use and the Related Stress Perception? Behavioral Sciences, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12040099
Wijanarko, K. S. (2014). Pengaruh Nilai Pelanggan Terhadap Kepuasan Serta Dampaknya Terhadap Loyalitas Menggunakan Smartphone Samsung Galaxy Series di Kota Palu. E-Journal Katalogis, 2(7), 34–36.
Winskel, H., Kim, T. H., Kardash, L., & Belic, I. (2019). Smartphone use and study behavior: A Korean and Australian comparison. Heliyon, 5(7), e02158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02158
Wolniewicz, C. A., Rozgonjuk, D., & Elhai, J. D. (2020). Boredom proneness and fear of missing out mediate relations between depression and anxiety with problematic smartphone use. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2(1), 61–70. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.159
Yang, H., Tng, G. Y. Q., Khoo, S. S., & Yang, S. (2022). Multidimensional Profiles of Addictive Smartphone Use: A Latent Profile Analysis. Current Psychology, 41(12), 8410–8423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02881-x
Yang, X. J., Liu, Q. Q., Lian, S. L., & Zhou, Z. K. (2020). Are bored minds more likely to be addicted? The relationship between boredom proneness and problematic mobile phone use. Addictive Behaviors, 108, 106426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106426
Zhao, J., Ye, B., Luo, L., & Yu, L. (2022). The Effect of Parent Phubbing on Chinese Adolescents ’ Smartphone Addiction During COVID-19 Pandemic : Testing a Moderated Mediation Model. March, 569–579.