Mapping gender networks of smartphone addiction and academic procrastination: a network analysis study

BackgroundSmartphone addiction (SA) and academic procrastination (AP) are two of the educational challenges encountered by many higher education students today that have led to a series of adverse effects on their well-being.Aims, sample, and methodsPrevious studies have reported inconsistent findin...

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Main Authors: Lu Song, Zhilin Liu, Yujia Yang, Shuangshuang Yuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1557684/full
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author Lu Song
Zhilin Liu
Yujia Yang
Shuangshuang Yuan
author_facet Lu Song
Zhilin Liu
Yujia Yang
Shuangshuang Yuan
author_sort Lu Song
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundSmartphone addiction (SA) and academic procrastination (AP) are two of the educational challenges encountered by many higher education students today that have led to a series of adverse effects on their well-being.Aims, sample, and methodsPrevious studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding gender differences in SA and AP, and limited attention has been paid to gender differences in the interaction between SA and AP. To address this gap, the present study employs network analysis to investigate gender differences in the SA, AP, and SA-AP interaction networks among higher education students. A total of 438 students from four higher education institutions in China participated in this study.ResultsThe findings indicate that there are more differences than similarities in the SA and AP networks between male and female students. In addition, within the SA-AP interaction network, the core feature of the male network is academic procrastination, reflecting deficiencies in time management and self-regulation. In contrast, the core feature of the female network is smartphone addiction, which highlights a strong dependence on immediate social feedback.ConclusionThis study represents the first attempt to investigate gender differences in SA and AP through the lens of network analysis. The findings reveal the complexity of gender differences in behavioral patterns and psychological mechanisms, moving beyond the limitations of previous research that primarily focused on mean-level differences. This study deepens the understanding of SA and AP and provides both theoretical support and practical guidance for the development and implementation of effective intervention strategies to address SA and AP among students.
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spelling doaj-art-cde0fa7d242e48d18d0e1dfaf22fc5ac2025-08-20T03:22:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-06-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15576841557684Mapping gender networks of smartphone addiction and academic procrastination: a network analysis studyLu Song0Zhilin Liu1Yujia Yang2Shuangshuang Yuan3School of Education Science, Liupanshui Normal University, Liupanshui, ChinaDepartment of Education, Nanchang Institute of Science and Technology, Nangchang, Jiangxi, ChinaCollege of Music, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang, ChinaDepartment of Life Science, Changzhi University, Changzhi, ChinaBackgroundSmartphone addiction (SA) and academic procrastination (AP) are two of the educational challenges encountered by many higher education students today that have led to a series of adverse effects on their well-being.Aims, sample, and methodsPrevious studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding gender differences in SA and AP, and limited attention has been paid to gender differences in the interaction between SA and AP. To address this gap, the present study employs network analysis to investigate gender differences in the SA, AP, and SA-AP interaction networks among higher education students. A total of 438 students from four higher education institutions in China participated in this study.ResultsThe findings indicate that there are more differences than similarities in the SA and AP networks between male and female students. In addition, within the SA-AP interaction network, the core feature of the male network is academic procrastination, reflecting deficiencies in time management and self-regulation. In contrast, the core feature of the female network is smartphone addiction, which highlights a strong dependence on immediate social feedback.ConclusionThis study represents the first attempt to investigate gender differences in SA and AP through the lens of network analysis. The findings reveal the complexity of gender differences in behavioral patterns and psychological mechanisms, moving beyond the limitations of previous research that primarily focused on mean-level differences. This study deepens the understanding of SA and AP and provides both theoretical support and practical guidance for the development and implementation of effective intervention strategies to address SA and AP among students.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1557684/fullgender studiesadult learningpedagogical issuessmartphone addictionacademic procrastination
spellingShingle Lu Song
Zhilin Liu
Yujia Yang
Shuangshuang Yuan
Mapping gender networks of smartphone addiction and academic procrastination: a network analysis study
Frontiers in Psychology
gender studies
adult learning
pedagogical issues
smartphone addiction
academic procrastination
title Mapping gender networks of smartphone addiction and academic procrastination: a network analysis study
title_full Mapping gender networks of smartphone addiction and academic procrastination: a network analysis study
title_fullStr Mapping gender networks of smartphone addiction and academic procrastination: a network analysis study
title_full_unstemmed Mapping gender networks of smartphone addiction and academic procrastination: a network analysis study
title_short Mapping gender networks of smartphone addiction and academic procrastination: a network analysis study
title_sort mapping gender networks of smartphone addiction and academic procrastination a network analysis study
topic gender studies
adult learning
pedagogical issues
smartphone addiction
academic procrastination
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1557684/full
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AT yujiayang mappinggendernetworksofsmartphoneaddictionandacademicprocrastinationanetworkanalysisstudy
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