Loneliness, emotion regulation difficulties and problematic smartphone use among Turkish adolescents- a moderated mediation analysis

Suzen Kesen F. N., ARICI A., Arifoglu A. T., ARTAN T.

JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE, vol.40, no.2, pp.333-350, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 40 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/02650533.2026.2655120
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Periodicals Index Online, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, CINAHL, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Violence & Abuse Abstracts, Social Sciences Abstracts, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection (EBSCO), Sociology Database (ProQuest), Sociology Source Ultimate (EBSCO)
  • Page Numbers: pp.333-350
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between perceived loneliness and emotion regulation difficulties among Turkish adolescents and to investigate the mediating role of problematic smartphone use in this relationship. Furthermore, this study aims to analyse the moderating role of age on relationship between loneliness and problematic smartphone use. This study was conducted through online survey with a quantitative cross-sectional design, involving 422 individuals aged between 10-18 years. The moderated mediation analysis revealed that loneliness was positively related to both problematic smartphone use and emotion regulation difficulties. It was also determined that problematic smartphone use played a positive and partial mediating role in the relationship between loneliness and emotion regulation difficulties. Finally, it was observed that the strength of the indirect effect of loneliness on emotion regulation difficulties via problematic smartphone use varies by age. The study highlights the need for age-sensitive programs, particularly targeting early adolescents.