Chapter 4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In this chapter, the analysis of data, results and findings of the study will be

discussed. Data gathered were analyzed and interpreted to determine the relationship of

smartphone addiction to depression and anxiety of students in Adventist University of the

Philippines. The findings of this research are guided through the distribution of adapted and

self-constructed questionnaire to 92 respondents who participated in the study.

Profile of the Respondents

Age

Table 1 and Figure 2 shows the distribution of the respondents according to age.

There are 41 (50%) respondents that 12-15 years old and there are also 41 (50%) respondents

that are 16-18 years old.

Table 1
Profile of the Respondents According to Age

Age Bracket Frequency Percent

12-15 years old 41 50.0
16-18 years old 41 50.0
Total 82 100.0
Figure 2. Distribution of the Respondents According to Age

Sex
Table 2 and Figure 3 below shows the distribution of the respondents according to sex.

There are 41 (50%) males and 41 (50%) female respondents.

Table 2

Profile of the Respondents According to Sex

Sex Frequency Percent

Male 41 50.0
Female 41 50.0
Total 82 100.0

27
Figure 3. Distribution of the Respondents According to Sex

Level of Smartphone Addiction

The level of smartphone addiction of the respondents was determined by descriptive

statistics as shown in the table below. The respondents’ smartphone addiction scale has a

mean of 1.1070 and a standard deviation of .55964. Moreover, it describes that the

smartphone addiction scale was applied to the respondents to an average degree.

Table 3
Level of Smartphone Addiction of the Respondents
Descriptive Statistics
N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
Smartphone 82 .00 2.56 1.1070 .55964
Addiction Scale
Valid N (listwise) 82

28
Age Differences in the Level of Smartphone Addiction

The table below presents the Levene’s test for equality of variances on which it

reveals that age has significant difference with smartphone addiction because the p value is

.080 and it is more than the significance level α = 0.05.

Table 4
Independent sample t-test for age and smartphone addiction

Independent Samples Test

F Sig. t df Sig. (2-
tailed)
Smartphone Equal variances 3.142 .080 -1.571 80 .120
Addiction Scale assumed
Equal variances -1.571 74.02 .121
not assumed 8

The table 5 illustrates the age differences in smartphone addiction of the respondents.

Respondents who are 12-15 years old has a mean of 1.0108 and standard deviation of .46931,

and 16-18 years old has a mean of 1.2033 and a standard deviation of .62849. Thus, it shows

that a 16-18 years old student has a higher level of smartphone addiction than on 12-15 years

old students.

Table 5
Age Differences of Respondents in Smartphone Addiction

Group Statistics
age N Mean Std. Std. Error
Deviation Mean
Smartphone 12-15 years 41 1.0108 .46931 .07329
Addiction Scale old
16-18 years 41 1.2033 .62849 .09815
old

29
Sex differences in the Level of Smartphone Addiction

The table below reveals the levene’s test for equality of variances on which it shows

that sex has significant difference with smartphone addiction because the p value is .082 and

it is more than the significance level α = 0.05.

Table 6
Independent sample t-test for sex and smartphone addiction

Independent Samples Test

F Sig. t df Sig. (2-
tailed)
Smartphone Equal variances 3.100 .082 1.209 80 .230
Addiction Scale assumed
Equal variances 1.209 74.63 .230
not assumed 5

The table 7 illustrates the differences in smartphone addiction in terms of sex. Male

respondents have a mean of 1.1816 and a standard deviation of .62842. On the other hand, a

mean of 1.0325 and a standard deviation of .47742 was shown in the female respondents.

Therefore, it clearly presents that male students are more prone to smartphone addiction than

on female students.

Table 7
Sex Differences of Respondents in Smartphone Addiction

Group Statistics
sex N Mean Std. Std. Error
Deviation Mean
Smartphone Addiction male 41 1.1816 .62842 .09814
Scale female 41 1.0325 .47742 .07456

30
Level of Depression and Anxiety
Level of depression and anxiety of students was shown through descriptive statistics.

The table below displays the mean of 1.0195 and a standard deviation of .59285 of

Depression and Anxiety Scale. Moreover, this illustrates that the respondents have an

average indication of depression and the scale for depression and anxiety did not apply to

them at all.

Table 8
Level of Depression and Anxiety of Respondents

Descriptive Statistics
N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
Depression and Anxiety 82 .00 2.30 1.0195 .59285
Scale
Valid N (listwise) 82

Age differences in the Level of Depression and Anxiety

Age revealed to have a significant difference to depression and anxiety as shown on

the table below using the independent samples test. The p value resulted as .508 on which it

was clear that it is higher than the significance level α = 0.05.

Table 9
Independent sample t-test for age and depression and anxiety

Independent Samples Test

F Sig. t df Sig. (2-
tailed)
Depression and Equal variances .443 .508 -1.618 80 .110
Anxiety Scale assumed
Equal variances -1.618 79.50 .110
not assumed

31
 Table 10 presents the age differences in depression and anxiety. 12-15 years old has a

mean of .9146 and a standard deviation of .60974 and 16-18 years old has a mean of 1.1244

and a standard deviation of .56337. More specifically, it elaborates that 12-15 years old is not

prone to experience depression while 16-18 years old respondent experienced depression but

not much.

Table 10
Age Differences in the Level of Depression and Anxiety

Group Statistics
age N Mean Std. Std. Error
Deviation Mean
Depression and 12-15 years 41 .9146 .60974 .09523
Anxiety Scale old
16-18 years 41 1.1244 .56337 .08798
old

Sex differences in the Level of Depression and Anxiety

Sex showed to have a significant difference to depression and anxiety as presented on

the table below using the independent samples test. The p value resulted as .161 on which it

was evident that it is higher than the significance level α = 0.05.

Table 11
Independent sample t-test for sex and depression and anxiety

Independent Samples Test

F Sig. t df Sig. (2-
tailed)
Depression and Equal variances 2.000 .161 -2.293 80 .024
Anxiety Scale assumed
Equal variances -2.293 77.425 .025
not assumed

32
 Below shows a table, that interprets the differences in the level of depression and

anxiety in terms of sex. It clearly stated that females are more prone to depression by having

a mean of 1.1659 and standard deviation of .62834 than males who has a mean of .8732 and

standard deviation of .52251.

Table 12

Sex Differences in the Level of Depression and Anxiety

Group Statistics
sex N Mean Std. Std. Error
Deviation Mean
Depression and male 41 .8732 .52251 .08160
Anxiety Scale female 41 1.1659 .62834 .09813

Relationship of Smartphone Addiction to Depression and Anxiety

Based on the data interpreted, each variables were presented and analyzed. It is clear

that the result for smartphone addiction was average, likewise to depression and anxiety that

was based on their mean and standard deviation. Moreover, Table 13 shows the Pearson

correlation was used to determine whether this variables correlates at it was shown that

smartphone addiction was related to depression and anxiety of students in Adventist

University of the Philippines (r=.314**, p=.004). Thus, the study rejects the null hypothesis

which state that there is no significant relationship between smartphone addiction and

depression or anxiety among the students.

33
Table 13
Correlation of Smartphone Addiction and Depression

Correlations
Smartphone Depression
Addiction and Anxiety
Scale Scale
Smartphone Addiction Pearson 1 .314**
Scale Correlation
Sig. (2-tailed) .004
N 82 82
Depression and Anxiety Pearson .314** 1
Scale Correlation
Sig. (2-tailed) .004
N 82 82
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).

Smartphone Addiction and Depression

The table below shows the frequency and percentage of the participants’ response on

whether the use of smartphone caused them any trouble. There are 29 (35.36%) respondents

experienced trouble, 36 (43.90%) answered no, and 17 (20.73%) answered sometimes it

brings out problem to them.

Table 14

Smartphone Use Effects

Question Response Code Sub Code

1. Does the Yes – 29 Negative Distraction

use of
smartphone 35.36% Loss of focus
cause you
trouble? No – 36 Positive Responsible use
Why?
43.90% Disciplined

34
 Sometimes – 17 Neutral Distraction

20.73% Responsible use

Respondent #2: “Yes, it distracts me”

Respondent #23: “Yes, because it is addictive and gives a lot of negative effects on me.”

Respondent #33: “Yes. It sometimes takes too much of my time.”

Respondent #50: “Yes, because when I use my phone I am losing my focus in my studies.”

Respondent #14: “Sometimes, because instead of studying I use it and spend so much of my

time.”

Though smartphones makes life easier and makes work faster, it also gives trouble

and problems to some people who gets too attached with it. According to Munoz (2017),

despite the productivity, smartphones can really be distracting. Applications notifies when

there are messages, updates, latest offerings, etc. These interrupt the momentum which can

potentially affect someone’s productivity. When people attend to these notifications, they

will find themselves attached to the phone. Likewise, Cornell (2018) also mentioned that

smartphones are distractors, it potentially decrease worker productivity and keep consumers

off-task. With a device that fits into a pocket and is able to accomplish so much, it is

automatic that a person will constantly checking email, sports scores, text messages,

Facebook and browsing the Web. This cuts into time spent focused on business projects.

35
Additionally, smartphone users often play on the devices during business meetings and

seminars, rather than focus on the presentations.

Respondent #5: “No, it gives me peace of mind when I have my phone I feel like I'm not

alone when I'm with it.”

Respondent # 38: “No, because I don’t use it often.”

Respondent #43: “No, because smartphone helps me to connect with my loved ones far away

from me.”

Respondent # 61: “No, because I only use it for educational purposes and during my free

time.”

In contrast to the disadvantages of smartphone use, 40.22% of the respondents

disagreed that this particular device can cause trouble. In support with this, Nield (2018)

mentioned that smartphones help people to keep in touch due to the fact that the majority

of smartphones come with social network functionality built in, which means people can

keep in touch with their friends on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Foursquare and

many more services. Moreover, Carr (2012), stated in his article on how to properly use

smartphones. He mentioned to be conscious of the situations and emotions that make people

want to check their phone. He also opined to be disciplined about not using the device in certain

situations (such as when you're with children, driving, or in a meeting) or at certain hours ( for

instance, between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.).

36
 Table 15 illustrates the respondents by being bothered of feeling depressed and

anxious. There are 27 (32.93%) respondents answered yes and there are 55 (67.07%)

answered no because of having a positive outlook on life.

Table 15
Depression and Anxiety among the Respondents
Question Response Code Sub Code
Yes – 27 Negative Hopelessness
2. Have you been 32.93%
bothered by Problems
feeling down,
depressed,
irritable, or No – 55 Positive Positive outlook
hopeless over 67.07%
the last two
weeks? How?

Respondent #5: “Yes, based on my experience, I cannot focus on whatever I am doing

because of the feeling that I’m depressed”

Respondent #11: “Yes, I feel irritable this last two weeks because I have lots of school works

to do and I don’t know what I need to do first”

Respondent #22: “Yes, school works and family problems are the main reasons.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7.6 percent of

people over the age of 12 have depression in any 2-week period. This is substantial and

shows the scale of the issue. In addition, as mentioned in World Health Organization (WHO),

depression is the most common illness worldwide and the leading cause of disability. They

estimate that 350 million people are affected by depression, globally. (Legg, 2017).

37
Moreover, Schimelpfening (2018) stated that the causes of depression are not completely

understood, but it is believed that several different factors may work together to make an

individual more prone to developing it. Some studies point to the fact that depression may be

an inherited condition in which certain mood-regulating chemicals in the brain called

neurotransmitters do not work properly. It appears that environmental factors may also play a

role, possibly by triggering the illness in people who are already genetically vulnerable.

On the table below, the frequency and percentage of the respondents about feeling

anxious when they get separated from their smartphone are shown. 34 respondent answered

yes with a percentage of 36.96, 39 (42.39%) answered no, and 19 (20.65%) responded

sometimes.

Table 16

Smartphone Addiction and Depression and Anxiety

Question Response Code Sub Code

3. Do you feel Yes – 31 Negative Communication

anxious
when you 37.80% Playing games
get
separated No – 36 Positive Not important
from your
smartphone 43.90% Not addict
for any
extended Sometimes – 15 Neutral Updates
period of
time? Why? 18.29% Not addict

Respondent #17: “Yes, I couldn’t resist to play games and chat her.”

Respondent #31: “Sometimes, because with a smartphone it makes me want to know

anything while without smartphone you could get bored.”

38
Respondent #49: “No because I can do many activities without my phone.”

A recent study conducted by Sulleyman (2017) eloquently stated that smartphone

separation anxiety is set to become an increasingly widespread problem, researchers say. The

term, which is also known as “nomophobia”, is used to describe the feeling of panic or stress

some people experience when they are unable to access or use their mobile phone. According

to new research, it has little to do with being unable to make or receive phone calls.

Nomophobia is not currently classified as a specific mental disorder, but studies have shown

that smartphone attachment can cause significant problems. Earlier this year, a study from

McCombs School of Business found that simply having a smartphone within reach, even if it

is switched off or placed face-down, reduces cognitive capacity. However, putting your

smartphone in a different room can give your brain a boost, even if you consider yourself to

be highly dependent on it.

39