Behavioral and psychological correlates of problematic smartphone use in street ketamine users

Abstract Background While problematic smartphone use screening tools are widely used and increasingly evaluated in student populations, their applicability and clinical stability across diverse groups—particularly those with comorbid substance use—remain unclear. Moreover, the overlap between proble...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chia-Heng Lin, Yang-lin Lin, Chia-Hsiang Chan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02778-x
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850042432184385536
author Chia-Heng Lin
Yang-lin Lin
Chia-Hsiang Chan
author_facet Chia-Heng Lin
Yang-lin Lin
Chia-Hsiang Chan
author_sort Chia-Heng Lin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background While problematic smartphone use screening tools are widely used and increasingly evaluated in student populations, their applicability and clinical stability across diverse groups—particularly those with comorbid substance use—remain unclear. Moreover, the overlap between problematic smartphone use and internet gaming disorder has not been well established in clinical contexts. This study explores the behavioral and psychological characteristics associated with problematic smartphone use, focusing on its relationship with online gaming behaviors among ketamine users referred for court-ordered addiction treatment. Methods The study involved 233 participants diagnosed with ketamine use disorder. Participants reported their daily smartphone use and primary usage purposes. Ketamine dependence was assessed using the Chinese version of the Severity of Dependence Scale. Emotional distress was evaluated using the Brief Symptom Rating Scale and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms were assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-V1.1). Problematic smartphone use risk was evaluated using the Short Form of the Problematic smartphone use Inventory (SPAI-SF). Logistic regression was used to analyze factors related to problematic smartphone use risk. Results The problematic smartphone use risk group reported significantly longer daily smartphone usage (odds ratio [OR]: 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–2.08), higher ASRS-V1.1 scores (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.05–1.23), and a greater likelihood of using smartphones for online gaming (OR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.19–4.29). Conclusions Excessive smartphone use in ketamine users is closely linked to online gaming, and ADHD symptoms may increase the risk of problematic smartphone use in this population.
format Article
id doaj-art-af590e574cd645529f00f5f2ce6bfe5e
institution DOAJ
issn 2050-7283
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Psychology
spelling doaj-art-af590e574cd645529f00f5f2ce6bfe5e2025-08-20T02:55:32ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-04-011311810.1186/s40359-025-02778-xBehavioral and psychological correlates of problematic smartphone use in street ketamine usersChia-Heng Lin0Yang-lin Lin1Chia-Hsiang Chan2Department of General Psychiatry, Bali Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and WelfareDepartment of General Psychiatry, Taitung Hospital, Ministry of Health and WelfareDepartment of General Psychiatry, Taoyuan Psychiatric CenterAbstract Background While problematic smartphone use screening tools are widely used and increasingly evaluated in student populations, their applicability and clinical stability across diverse groups—particularly those with comorbid substance use—remain unclear. Moreover, the overlap between problematic smartphone use and internet gaming disorder has not been well established in clinical contexts. This study explores the behavioral and psychological characteristics associated with problematic smartphone use, focusing on its relationship with online gaming behaviors among ketamine users referred for court-ordered addiction treatment. Methods The study involved 233 participants diagnosed with ketamine use disorder. Participants reported their daily smartphone use and primary usage purposes. Ketamine dependence was assessed using the Chinese version of the Severity of Dependence Scale. Emotional distress was evaluated using the Brief Symptom Rating Scale and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms were assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-V1.1). Problematic smartphone use risk was evaluated using the Short Form of the Problematic smartphone use Inventory (SPAI-SF). Logistic regression was used to analyze factors related to problematic smartphone use risk. Results The problematic smartphone use risk group reported significantly longer daily smartphone usage (odds ratio [OR]: 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–2.08), higher ASRS-V1.1 scores (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.05–1.23), and a greater likelihood of using smartphones for online gaming (OR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.19–4.29). Conclusions Excessive smartphone use in ketamine users is closely linked to online gaming, and ADHD symptoms may increase the risk of problematic smartphone use in this population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02778-xProblematic smartphone useInternet gamingAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderKetamineBehavioral addiction
spellingShingle Chia-Heng Lin
Yang-lin Lin
Chia-Hsiang Chan
Behavioral and psychological correlates of problematic smartphone use in street ketamine users
BMC Psychology
Problematic smartphone use
Internet gaming
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Ketamine
Behavioral addiction
title Behavioral and psychological correlates of problematic smartphone use in street ketamine users
title_full Behavioral and psychological correlates of problematic smartphone use in street ketamine users
title_fullStr Behavioral and psychological correlates of problematic smartphone use in street ketamine users
title_full_unstemmed Behavioral and psychological correlates of problematic smartphone use in street ketamine users
title_short Behavioral and psychological correlates of problematic smartphone use in street ketamine users
title_sort behavioral and psychological correlates of problematic smartphone use in street ketamine users
topic Problematic smartphone use
Internet gaming
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Ketamine
Behavioral addiction
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02778-x
work_keys_str_mv AT chiahenglin behavioralandpsychologicalcorrelatesofproblematicsmartphoneuseinstreetketamineusers
AT yanglinlin behavioralandpsychologicalcorrelatesofproblematicsmartphoneuseinstreetketamineusers
AT chiahsiangchan behavioralandpsychologicalcorrelatesofproblematicsmartphoneuseinstreetketamineusers