SMARTPHONE OVERUSE AS HABIT OF PLEASURE SEEKING IN MOROCCAN ADULTS

Abstract

The smartphone has become an indispensable device in modern life, consequential psychosocial problems such as smartphone ad- diction have gained worldwide attention. The aim of the present study is to assess the relation between smartphone overuse and see- king pleasure linked with reward system overstimulation and dopa- mine continuous release.A survey instrument using a web-based questionnaire distributed via social media was developed after a thorough literature review and was deployed to collect data from smartphone users. The study participants in total numbered 374 users from different age groups, with the average age being between 19 and 25 years old; with 227 females (60.9%) and 147 (39.1%) males. Responses to the Smart- phone Addiction Scale Short version (SAS-SV) test including 10- items were rated on a 6-point Likert scale, and their percentage mean score (PMS) was calculated. Factors associated with these outcomes were identified using descriptive and regression ana- lyses. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.Over 76% of smartphone users declared having pleasure feelings during repetitive utilization. The result obtained by the SAS-SV test showed that subjects with higher scores presented high levels of addiction. The majority of the participants in this study had a university degree n=344 (91.9%), while n=30 (8%) had diplomas of completing secondary and primary school. The PMS of addiction was 39.220.3, while the mean score (MS) of seeking pleasure was 7610.0. A significant positive correlation was present between smart- phone overuse and seeking pleasure (y=76+0.8;P<0.001). Signifi- cantly, higher smartphone addiction scores were associated with pleasure and enjoyment feelings, ( =0.203, adj. P=0.004). The ad - dic tion scores were higher in single status users when compared to married users (=2.03, adj. P=0.01 vs. (=0.194, adj. P< 0.001). Factors associated to higher addiction scores were gender, namely the affected being females and single status users when compared to males and married users as these had higher smartphone addiction scores.The positive correlation between smartphone addiction and see- king pleasure is alarming. Reasonable usage of smartphones is advised, especially among younger adults who could be at higher risk of control loss.