Research on the Relationship Among College Students’ Rejection Sensitivity, Loneliness, and Smartphone Dependence

Objective: This study aimed to explore the influence of rejection sensitivity on college students’ smartphone dependence and to investigate the mediating role of loneliness in this process. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among students from a university in Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province, with a total of 595 valid questionnaires collected. The Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire, Loneliness Scale, and Smartphone Dependence Scale were used for the survey. Data were processed using SPSS 27.0 software for common method bias testing, descriptive statistics, and Pearson correlation analysis, and the PROCESS 4.1 plugin was used for mediating effect testing. Results: Both rejection sensitivity and loneliness were significantly positively correlated with smartphone dependence. The mediating effect analysis indicated that both the direct effect of rejection sensitivity on smartphone dependence and the mediating effect through loneliness were significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Rejection sensitivity can significantly predict college students’ smartphone dependence, and loneliness plays a mediating role in this relationship. This finding is of great significance for understanding how college students alleviate smartphone dependence through rejection sensitivity and loneliness, providing a theoretical basis for the formulation of mental health promotion strategies.