Correlates of Smartphone Addiction and Dysfunctional Effects Among School-going Children in Bangladesh

The principal objective of this article was to explore the correlates of smartphone addiction and its dysfunctional effects among school-going children in Bangladesh. In this study, smartphone addiction was measured by applying the Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale through a structured questionnaire administered via a social survey method. Data were collected from a sample size of 490 school-going children, aged 12–18 and in some cases 18+ covering a total of eight secondary schools in Bangladesh, using purposive sampling. We found that the social aspects of ‘adaptive dysfunctions’ and psychological aspects of ‘withdrawal’ were closely linked in inducing smartphone addiction, which adversely affected primordial social bonds and virtuous personalities of children. Statistical findings revealed significant associations between smartphone addiction and excessive use of popular apps, virtual connectivity and online dating. Consequently, smartphone addiction accelerated ephemeral intimacy, apathy towards responsibilities, virtual harassment, loss of privacy and the breakdown of moral principles in social relationships. These findings are suggestive for policymakers, researchers, parents and school authorities, as they could contribute to the holistic development of children.