Exploring Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) among Muslim Adolescents in Southern Thailand: Students and Parents’ Insights

This study aimed to explore problematic smartphone use (PSU) among young Muslim students in Southern Thailand. This research employed a dual-perspective, phenomenological approach, examining PSU from the perspectives of both adolescent Muslim students and their parents. We interviewed 10 participants, through purposive sampling, comprising 5 adolescent Muslim students studying in Southern Thailand and their respective parents. The qualitative data collected was then subjected to thematic analysis. Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis. Each theme was further explored and discussed based on its categories and subcategories. The first theme, “Primary Purposes of Using Smartphones”, consisted of: learning, communicating, and relaxation. The second theme, “Types of PSU”, included overusing smartphones and dysfunctional habits. The third theme, “Negative Impacts of PSU”, encompassed physical effects and losing control. The last theme, “Reasons for PSU”, was composed of psychological needs and low regulation as its categories. Moreover, the study highlighted similarities and differences in perspectives on these themes between Muslim adolescents and their parents. The findings and limitations of this research are presented to suggest potential directions for future study and implications.