Problematic smartphone use and adolescent's depression trajectory patterns

This research aimed to examine the trajectory patterns of depression among South Korean adolescents and the individual and social predictors of these trajectories. For this purpose, a growth mixture model was used, employing 4 years of longitudinal data from 2,607 adolescents (50.4% female, M age ranged from 10 to 13 years, SD = .096-.097). The analysis revealed three subtypes: moderate-maintained depression, high-decreasing depression, and low-increasing depression. Problematic smartphone use emerged as a critical factor influencing the depression trajectories, which has not been extensively explored in previous research. Depression was linked to being female, low self-esteem, parental rejection and inconsistency, and low peer support.