Assessing Smartphone Addiction among Mexican Students: Insights, Implications, and Interventions in the Era of Mobile Learning and Virtual Environments

Abstract

This study conducted a new adaptation of the short version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV) for the Mexican population. The scale exhibited excellent internal consistency (α = .88), with one factor explaining 54.8% of the variance. 286 students aged 15 to 35 years of age from central and southeast Mexico revealed a prevalence of 30% excessive users (18% men, 12% women). They used smartphones primarily for communication, social media, entertainment, productivity, and browsing the Internet. No gender differences were found; however, a significant association with age emerged (rho = .221, p < .001). Withdrawal (72.7% women) and tolerance (80.8% men) were common symptoms of addiction, while ignorance of consequences was less frequent (33.3% women, 30.8% men). The prevalence of potential excessive use of smartphones was close to the average identified in the reviewed studies. The results revealed a substantial risk of addiction to smartphones, particularly among men. Finally, the successful adaptation of the scale offers a valuable instrument for future study and clinical evaluation. These findings can guide targeted interventions and educational programs tailored to different groups. Additionally, recognition of common symptoms of addiction allows individuals to identify and address potential problems at an early stage. However, more study is needed to validate the findings and explore additional contributing factors in the Mexican context.