Background: Smartphones are becoming a daily necessity for most undergraduates in Mainland China. Because
the present scenario of problematic smartphone use (PSU) is largely unexplored, in the current study we aimed to
estimate the prevalence of PSU and to screen suitable predictors for PSU among Chinese undergraduates in the
framework of the stress-coping theory.
Methods: A sample of 1062 undergraduate smartphone users was recruited by means of the stratified cluster
random sampling strategy between April and May 2015. The Problematic Cellular Phone Use Questionnaire was
used to identify PSU. We evaluated five candidate risk factors for PSU by using logistic regression analysis while
controlling for demographic characteristics and specific features of smartphone use.
Results: The prevalence of PSU among Chinese undergraduates was estimated to be 21.3%. The risk factors for PSU
were majoring in the humanities, high monthly income from the family (≥1500 RMB), serious emotional symptoms,
high perceived stress, and perfectionism-related factors (high doubts about actions, high parental expectations).
Conclusions: PSU among undergraduates appears to be ubiquitous and thus constitutes a public health issue in
Mainland China. Although further longitudinal studies are required to test whether PSU is a transient phenomenon
or a chronic and progressive condition, our study successfully identified socio-demographic and psychological risk
factors for PSU. These results, obtained from a random and thus representative sample of undergraduates, opens
up new avenues in terms of prevention and regulation policies.