The Impact of Smartphone Overdependence on Empathy in Early Adolescence: Serial Mediating Effects of Maternal Attachment and Self-Esteem

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the structural relationship between smartphone overdependence, maternal attachment, and self-esteem on adolescents’ empathy. Data were collected from 1,303 first-year middle school students as part of the 14th (2021) Panel Study on Korean Children. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with the maximum likelihood method using JAMOVI 2.3. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, smartphone overdependence had a significant negative effect on empathy, whereas maternal attachment and self-esteem had a significant positive effect on empathy. Second, both maternal attachment and self-esteem significantly mediated the negative effect of smartphone overdependence on empathy. Third, smartphone overdependence had a significant negative effect on empathy through the sequential dual mediation of maternal attachment and self-esteem.