DOES A DEPRESSIVE EPISODE PRECEDE PROBLEMATIC SMARTPHONE USE? : A NATIONWIDE STUDY IN KOREA

Abstract Background Although many studies have consistently demonstrated the association between depression and problematic smartphone use (PSU), the temporal precedence and causality of this relationship remain controversial. Aims & Objectives This study aimed to investigate the relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD) and PSU in a sample of the general adult population by analyzing the association between present PSU and both past and current MDD. Method The study utilized data from the Korean Epidemiologic Catchment Area study, a nationwide epidemiologic survey that employed a multistage cluster sampling method. Participants were assessed using the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview to diagnose MDD and the Smartphone Overuse Screening Questionnaire to identify PSU. Results Of the 916 subjects, 139 (15.2%) belonged to the PSU group. The prevalence of PSU in older adults was substantial, with 9.3% for the 36-50 age group and 5.4% for the over 50 age group. We found a significant association between MDD and PSU. Both current (OR 6.366, 95% CI 1.253-32.353) and previous (OR 2.826, 95% CI 1.528-5.227) MDD episodes were associated with increased risk of PSU. Discussion & Conclusion This study confirmed the association between PSU and MDD among the general adult population. Specifically, previously resolved depression was found to affect the current PSU. This study also contributes to the literature by utilizing standardized tools for diagnosing MDD, providing more robust evidence on the association between depression and PSU. Additionally, the study also highlighted that PSU is not limited to young populations.