Problematic Smartphone Use Among Turkish Adults: Latent Profiles and Links to Self-Control, Boredom Proneness, and Procrastination

The current research explores the diverse profiles of problematic smartphone use (PSU) ratings within an adult sample using latent profile analysis, along with an examination of some factors associated with these latent profiles. The study enrolled 807 individuals, 66.29% of whom were female, from various provinces of Türkiye. The participants were between 18 and 54 years old (Mage = 23.35; SD = 3.59). Self-control, boredom proneness, and procrastination were examined to determine their associations with PSU rating-based latent profile membership. The analysis identified three distinct profiles based on PSU items: low PSU, moderate PSU, and high PSU. According to the results of the Vermunt three-step test, compared to the high and moderate PSU groups, the group with a low PSU profile demonstrated greater self-control and a lower degree of boredom and procrastination. The findings reveal that increases in boredom proneness and procrastination, along with a decline in self-control, significantly raise the risk of PSU. Addressing these factors through targeted interventions may help reduce the risk of developing PSU.