HABIT AND HEDONISM: SMARTPHONE DEPENDENCY BEYOND UTILITY

Smartphones have evolved beyond their primary function as communication devices, becoming essential tools due to their convenience, advanced features, and usability. This has driven a consistent rise in smartphone adoption, with global users expected to increase from 4 billion in 2021 to nearly 5 billion by 2028. Previous research on smartphone usage has largely focused on students, a group characterized by early adoption of new technologies. While traditional studies examined factors such as Social Needs, Social Influence, and Convenience, emerging aspects like Hedonism and Habit have recently gained attention. However, no study has holistically integrated these factors. This research investigates the multifaceted nature of smartphone dependency by surveying students from three universities in and around New Delhi, India. A smartphone dependency scale was developed, encompassing five independent variables—Social Needs, Social Influence, Convenience,Habit, and Hedonism—and one dependent variable, Smartphone Dependency. An initial 31-item scale underwent rigorous factor analysis, revealing the significant influence of all proposed factors.Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) refined the scale to 21 items, ensuring greater precision. Notably, this study highlights the relevance of emerging factors, Hedonism and Habit, in addition to classical factors, in the Indian context. These findings offer a comprehensive framework for understanding smartphone dependency, emphasizing the interplay of traditional and contemporary influences. This research contributes to the literature by providing a validated scale and insights into evolving behavioral dynamics related to smartphone use.