Relationship between interoceptive awareness, smartphone addiction, self regulation and depression among emerging adults

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Interoceptive awareness is the awareness of inner body sensations, involving the sensory process of receiving, accessing and appraising internal bodily signals. Smartphone addiction can be psychological or behavioral dependence on cell phones, closely related to other forms of digital media overuse such as social media addiction or gaming addiction. It is said that over use of these technologies can lead to physical and psychological problems like anxiety, depression and other physical problems.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

328 individuals in the age group 18-25 from 4 different institutions participated in the study. They were asked to fill a questionnaire that included Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), Self Regulation Inventory (SRI) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Data was tabulated and further analyzed using the software JASP 0.10.2.0.

RESULT

After analysis, we found that Pearson’s r value for; MAIA and SAS was -0.0007, MAIA and SRI was 0.258 and MAIA and PHQ-9 was 0.064. This means there was a weak positive correlation between MAIA and SRI. There was weak negative correlation between MAIA and SAS, MAIA and PHQ-9.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates that as interoceptive awareness increases self regulation also increases. Also, as interoceptive awareness decreases depression and smartphone addiction also decreases. But the relations were found to be weak.