NDLI: Has Smartphone Use Influenced Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan?

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Has Smartphone Use Influenced Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan?

Content Provider	MDPI
Author	Nguyen, Trinh Xuan Thi Lal, Sumeet Abdul-Salam, Sulemana Yuktadatta, Pattaphol McKinnon, Louis Khan, Mostafa Saidur Rahim Kadoya, Yoshihiko
Copyright Year	2022
Description	The influence of smartphone use on increased risk of feeling lonely has been recognized as a global public health concern. However, it is unclear whether this influence has changed during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, during which smartphones have become a particularly important means of communication due to health safety measures restricting personal interactions. We used Hiroshima University’s online survey data collected from 18–28 February 2022, to assess the impact of smartphone use on loneliness in Japan. The final sample included 2630 participants aged over 20 years, with loneliness measured using the UCLA scale and smartphone use calculated as the duration of usage in minutes/day. Weighted logit regression analysis was used to examine the association between smartphone use and loneliness, with other demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological characteristics as explanatory variables. Contrary to conventional evidence, our findings show that smartphone use mitigated the risk of loneliness during the pandemic. This was especially true among females under 65 years old. We found that age, subjective health status, future anxiety, and depression impacted this relationship. The findings of this study can help guide policymaking by showing the importance of providing adequate digital platforms to manage loneliness and mental health during times of isolation.
Starting Page	10540
e-ISSN	16604601
DOI	10.3390/ijerph191710540
Journal	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Issue Number	17
Volume Number	19
Language	English
Publisher	MDPI
Publisher Date	2022-08-24
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Loneliness Smartphone Covid-19 Pandemic Japan
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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