Biomaterial Database

Examining the Link Between Problematic Smartphone Use and Substance Use Disorders Among College Students: Association Patterns Using Network Analysis. 2025

Amanda Severo Lins Vitta, and Wanderlei Abadio de Oliveira, and Lucio Garcia de Oliveira, and Laura Soares da Silva, and Évelin Moreira Freires, and Fernando Ferreira Semolini, and Makilim Nunes Baptista, and Claudio Romualdo, and Hyoun S Kim, and Denise de Micheli, and Adriana Scatena, and André Luiz Monezi Andrade

Graduate Program in Psychology, School of Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, John Boyd Dunlop Avenue, Ipaussurama Garden, Campinas 13060-904, SP, Brazil.

This study examines the interplay between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and substance use disorders (SUDs) among Brazilian college students, also addressing associated emotional distress (e.g., depression, anxiety, and stress). A total of 3130 students (M_age = 23.6; SD_age = 5.34) participated in an online survey featuring validated measures for assessing PSU, alcohol and drug consumption, and emotional distress. Participants were categorized into problematic smartphone use (PSU) and non-problematic use (nPSU) groups. The prevalence of PSU was 46.9%, notably higher among female students, those lacking a religious affiliation, individuals living alone, and the unemployed. PSU individuals showed significantly elevated rates of alcohol, cannabis, and other illicit substance use, along with greater emotional distress. Network analysis revealed that weekly alcohol consumption and stress symptoms exhibited the highest centrality indices (e.g., stress with high betweenness; alcohol with strong expected influence), underscoring their key roles in connecting PSU and SUDs. These findings suggest that PSU and SUDs may share underlying emotional vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for integrated intervention strategies targeting both conditions concurrently.