The mediating role of smartphone addiction in the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and juvenile delinquency

Research has demonstrated the significant roles that smartphone addiction and emotion regulation difficulties play in juvenile delinquency. However, the mediating role of smartphone addiction in the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and delinquent behavior has not been extensively explored. To address this gap, data were collected via a survey administered to 210 sentenced male juvenile delinquents, aged 14 to 17, who frequently use multiple social media applications via smartphones. Our findings reveal that male juveniles exhibit high levels of smartphone addiction, which significantly disrupts their daily functioning and fosters a strong orientation toward virtual life. These juveniles frequently experience withdrawal symptoms when not using their smartphones. Additionally, they report substantial difficulties in regulating their emotions, including problems with impulse control, non-acceptance of emotional responses, and lack of emotional clarity. These emotional regulation challenges are closely linked to a higher frequency of delinquent behaviors. Furthermore, a significant positive relationship was found between smartphone addiction (which disrupts adaptive functioning) and delinquency. The results further suggest that smartphone addiction mediates the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and delinquency. Specifically, difficulties in emotion regulation increase the likelihood of smartphone addiction, which in turn escalates the risk of engaging in delinquent behavior. Furthermore, emotion regulation difficulties directly influence juvenile delinquency, independent of smartphone addiction.