Questionnaire “Metacognitions about Problematic Smartphone Use”: An Abbreviated Russian-Language Version for Teenagers and Young People

Against the background of the rapid spread of mobile technologies and the emergence of related forms of problematic behavior, there is a shortage of Russian-language questionnaires that allow you to study the problematic use of smartphones by adolescents and young people. The article presents the results of a study aimed at developing an abbreviated version of the questionnaire version of the questionnaire "Metacognitions about problematic smartphone use" (S. Casale, L. Caponi, G. Fioravanti), based on the idea that metacognitions play a decisive role in the formation of problematic behavior. The sample consisted of 781 respondents aged 14-25 years. The tested version of the questionnaire includes 10 items evaluated on a 5-point Likert scale, which were isolated from the original version of the questionnaire (24 items) using the focus group method (n = 35). Analysis of the questionnaire structure (n = 636) allowed combining the questionnaire items into two scales: "Positive beliefs about problematic smartphone use" and "Negative beliefs about problematic smartphone use". Satisfactory indicators of design validity were obtained (confirmatory factor analysis: χ2/df = 1.84, p<0.01, CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.04), internal consistency of scales, (Kronbach coefficient: "Positive beliefs about problematic smartphone use" α = 0.83; "Negative beliefs about problematic smartphone use" α = 0.72), competitive validity (correlation analysis: r≥0.28 for both scales of the questionnaire and indicators of smartphone dependence, as well as problematic Internet use). Acceptable indicators of retest reliability were also obtained (correlation analysis: "Positive beliefs about problematic smartphone use" r = 0.64; "Negative beliefs about problematic smartphone use" r = 0.56). The possibilities of using the questionnaire to solve the problems of prevention, detection and overcoming of problematic smartphone use, as well as prospects for further research using the developed questionnaire are discussed.

1. Detstvo v ehkrane. Statistika ispol'zovaniya smartfonov det'mi raznogo vozrasta [Childhood in the screen. Statistics on the use of smartphones by children of different ages]. Available at: https://whatisgood.ru/theory/science/detstvo-v-ekrane (Accessed 20.11.2023). (In Russ.).
2. Evert L.S., et al. Zavisimost' ot smartfona i ee komorbidnost' s recidiviruyushchimi golovnymi bolyami u studentov [Smartphone dependence and its comorbidity with recurrent headaches in students]. Vrach, 2022. Vol. 33, no. 9, pp. 53—57. DOI:10.29296/25877305-2022-09-10 (In Russ.).
3. Kolesnikov V.N., Melnik Yu.I., Teplova L.I. Problematichnoe ispol'zovanie mobil'nogo telefona v yunosheskom vozraste [Problematic use of mobile phone in adolescence]. Vestnik TVGU. Seriya "Pedagogika i psikhologiya" = Herald of Tver State University. Series: Pedagogy and Psychology, 2018. Issue 3, pp. 38—51. (In ).
4. Miklyaeva A.V., Bezgodova S.A., Nikolaeva E.I. Informacionnyj onlajn-poisk kak element obrazovatel'noj aktivnosti sovremennykh shkol'nikov i studentov: kognitivnye i psikhofiziologicheskie predposylki effektivnosti [Online information search as an element of educational activity of modern schoolchildren and students: cognitive and psychophysiological prerequisites for effectiveness]. Saint Petersburg: HSPU Publ., 2023. 216 p. (In ).
5. Sheinov V.P. Vzaimosvyazi zavisimosti ot smartfona s psikhologicheskimi i social'no-psikhologicheskimi kharakteristikami lichnosti: obzor zarubezhnykh issledovanij [Smartphone addiction and personality: review of international research]. Vestnik Possijskogo universiteta druzhby narodov. Seriya: Psikhologiya i pedagogika = Bulletin of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. Series: Psychology and Pedagogy, 2021. Vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 235—253. DOI:10.22363/2313-1683-2021-18-1-235-253 (In Russ.).
6. Sheinov V.P., Devitsyn A.S. Svyaz' zavisimosti ot smartfona s priznakami psikhologicheskogo neblagopoluchiya u rossiyan i ukraincev [Relationship between smartphone addiction and signs of psychological distress among Russians and Ukrainians]. Psikhologiya cheloveka v obrazovanii = Psychology in education, 2022. Vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 323—328. DOI:10.33910/2686-9527-2022-4-3-323-328 (In Russ.).
7. Sheinov V.P. Sokrashchennaya versiya oprosnika kommunikativnykh umenij dlya podrostkov i vzroslykh [An abbreviated version of the Communication Skills Test for adolescents and adults]. Gercenovskie chteniya: psikhologicheskie issledovaniya v obrazovanii = TheHerzen University Studies: Psychology in Education, 2023. No. 6. pp. 557—565. DOI:10.33910/herzenpsyconf-2023-6-63 (In ).
8. Zhou H., et al. A cross-lagged panel model for testing the bidirectional relationship between depression and smartphone addiction and the influences of maladaptive metacognition on them in Chinese adolescents. Addictive Behaviors, 2021. Vol. 120, p. 106978. DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106978
9. Akbari M., Zamani E., Fioravanti G., Casale S. Psychometric properties of the Metacognitions about Smartphone Use Questionnaire (MSUQ) in a sample of Iranians. Addictive Behaviors, 2021. Vol. 114, 106722. DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106722
10. Alotaibi M.S., Fox M., Coman R., Ratan Z.A., Hosseinzadeh H. Smartphone Addiction Prevalence and Its Association on Academic Performance, Physical Health, and Mental Well-Being among University Students in Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022. Vol. 19(6), p. 3710. DOI:10.3390/ijerph1906371
11. Zheng F., et al. Association between mobile phone use and self-reported well-being in children: a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study in Chongqing. China. BMJ Open, 2015. Vol. 5(5), p. e007302. DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-00730
12. , Fioravanti G., Spada M.M. Modelling the Contribution of Metacognitions and Expectancies to Problematic Smartphone Use. Journal of behavioral addictions, 2021. Vol. 10(3), pp. 788—798. DOI:10.1556/2006.2021.00066
13. Casale S., Caponi L., Fioravanti G. Metacognitions about problematic Smartphone use: Development of a self-report measure. Addictive Behaviors, 2020. Vol. 109, p. 106484. DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106484
14. De-Sola Gutiérrez J., Rodríguez de Fonseca F., Rubio G. Cell-Phone Addiction: A Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2016. Vol. 7, 175. DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00175
15. Regan, et al. Does mindfulness reduce the effects of risk factors for problematic smartphone use? Comparing frequency of use versus self-reported addiction. Addictive Behaviors, 2020. Vol.108, p. 106435. DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106435 
16. Fischer-Grote L., Kothgassner O.D., Felnhofer A. Risk factors for problematic smartphone use in children and adolescents: a review of existing literature. Neuropsychiatry, 2019. Vol. 33(4), pp. 179—190. DOI:10.1007/s40211-019-00319-8
17. Gao B., Zhu S.J., Wu J.L. The relationship between cell phone addiction and learning engagement among college students: The mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of core self-evaluation. Psychological development and education, 2021. Vol. 27, 400—406.
18. Hamonniere, Varescon I. Metacognitive beliefs in addictive behaviours: A systematic review. Addictive Behaviors, 2018. Vol. 85, pp. 51—63. DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.05.018
19. Latcheva R. Cognitive interviewing and factor-analytic techniques: A mixed method approach to validity of survey items measuring national identity. Quality and Quantity, 2011. Vol. 45, 6, pp. 1175—1199. DOI:10.1007/s11135-009-9285-0
20. Liu D., Kirschner P.A., Karpinski A.C. A meta-analysis of the relationship of academic performance and Social Network Site use among adolescents and young adults. Computers in human behavior, 2017. Vol. 77, pp. 148—157.
21. Moqbel M., Nevo S. and Nah F.F.-H. Unveiling the dark side in smartphone addiction: mediation of strain and moderation of hedonic use on well-being. Internet Research, 2023. Vol. 3(1), р. 12—DOI:10.1108/INTR-01-2021-0003
22. Mostyn Sullivan B., George A.M. The association of motives with problematic smartphone use: A systematic review. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 2023. Vol. 17(1), Article 2. DOI:10.5817/CP2023-1-2
23. Gonçalves S., et al. Nomophobia and lifestyle: Smartphone use and its relationship to psychopathologies. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 2020. Vol. 2, p. 100025.DOI:10.1016/j.chbr.2020.100025
24. Panova T., Carbonell X. Is smartphone addiction really an addiction? Journal of Behavioral Addictions, Vol. 7(2), p. 252—259. DOI:10.1556/2006.7.2018.49
25. Sohn S.Y., et al. Prevalence of problematic smartphone usage and associated mental health outcomes amongst children and young people: a systematic review, meta-analysis and GRADE of the evidence. BMC Psychiatry, 2019. Vol. 19, p. 356. DOI:10.1186/s12888-019-2350-x
26. Shi Z. et al. Psychometric properties of the metacognitions about smartphone use questionnaire (MSUQ) in Chinese college students. Addictive Behaviors, 2021. Vol. 123, p. 107041. DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107041
27. Zhao X., et al. Psychometric Properties of the Smartphone Distraction Scale in Chinese College Students: Validity, Reliability and Influencing Factors. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2022. Vol. 13, p. 859640. DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.859640
28. De-Sola Gutiérrez J., et al. Smartphone Addiction among Students and its Harmful Effects on Mental Health, Oxidative Stress, and Neurodegeneration towards Future Modulation of Anti-Addiction Therapies: A Comprehensive Survey based on SLR, Research Questions, and Network Visualization Techniques. CNS & Neurological Disorders — Drug Targets, 2023. Vol. 22(7), pp. 1070—1089. DOI:10.2174/1871527321666220614121439
29. Olson J.A., et al. Smartphone addiction is increasing across the world: A meta-analysis of 24 countries. Computers in Human Behavior, 2022. Vol. 129, p. 107138. DOI:10.1016/j.chb.2021.107138
30. Spada M.M., Caselli G., Nikèeviæ A.V., Wells A. Metacognition in addictive behaviors. Addictive Behaviors, Vol. 44, pp. 9—15. DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.08.002
31. Chen H., et al. The impact of psychological distress on problematic smartphone use among college students: The mediating role of metacognitions about smartphone use. Frontiers in Psychology, 2022. Vol. 13, p. 932838. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.932838
32. James R.J.E., et al. Understanding the construction of ‘behavior’ in smartphone addiction: A scoping review. Addictive Behaviors, 2023. Vol. 137, p. 107503. DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107503
33. Wells A., Cartwright-Hatton S. A Short form of the Metacognitions Questionnaire: Properties of the MCQ-30. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 2004. Vol. 42, pp. 385—396. DOI:10.1016/S0005-7967(03)00147-5
34. Wells A. Advances in metacognitive therapy. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 2013. Vol. 6, pp. 186—201. DOI:10.1521/ijct.2013.6.2.186
35. Xie Y., Lei F., Xie R. Relationship between personality traits and metacognitions about smartphone use: A latent profile analysis. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 2023. Vol. 51(2), pp. 1—11. DOI:10.2224/sbp.12066
36. Yang X.F., Li X.F., Hu P. Trait procrastination and cell phone addiction: The mediating role of negative emotional experiences. Chinese journal of clinical psychology, 2020. Vol. 28, pp. 1148—1151.