An Investigation into the Relationship between Smartphone Addiction and Psychological Well-being among College Students

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between smartphone addiction and psychological well- being among college students in the Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. A quantitative, correlational research design was employed, with data collected from 150 undergraduate students aged 18 to 22 years using two standardized instruments: the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV) and Ryff's 42-item Psychological Well- Being Scale (PWS). Contrary to prevailing assumptions in the literature, findings revealed a significant positive correlation between smartphone addiction and psychological well-being (r = .386, p < .001), suggesting that smartphone use among this population may serve meaningful social, academic, and emotional functions rather than undermining mental health. Gender differences were also significant on both variables. Female students scored higher on both smartphone addiction (M = 38.37) and psychological well-being (M = 157.91) compared to their male counterparts. Age- based patterns further indicated that 18-year-old students reported the highest scores on both measures. These findings highlight the importance of contextual factors in understanding smartphone use and call for culturally sensitive, region-specific approaches to digital health research and intervention among Indian college students.