CHILDHOOD abuse may substantially increase the likelihood of smartphone addiction among teenagers by damaging self-esteem and exacerbating depression, according to a South Korean study that suggests excessive phone use may be a symptom of unresolved trauma rather than simply poor self-control.
The research found that adolescents who had experienced physical, verbal or emotional abuse by parents or caregivers were significantly more likely to display signs of problematic smartphone use.
It also revealed that lower self-esteem and more severe depressive symptoms were independently associated with greater reliance on smartphones, while experiences of abuse were closely linked to both diminished self-worth and increased depression.
“Childhood abuse has a direct effect on smartphone addiction,” Korean Herald reported the researchers writing.
They further identified a sequential psychological pathway in which childhood abuse lowers self-esteem, heightens depression and ultimately increases the risk of smartphone addiction.
The study, published in the Journal of the Korean Academy of Mental Health Social Work, was conducted by Jeon Cho-won, a doctoral candidate in social welfare at Ewha Womans University, together with fellow researchers.
It analysed data collected in 2022 from a nationwide panel survey involving 1,269 second-year middle school students in South Korea who owned smartphones. The participants comprised 647 boys and 622 girls.
Researchers examined the relationship between childhood abuse, self-esteem, depression and smartphone addiction, defining abuse as physical, verbal or emotional mistreatment by a parent or guardian.
The findings suggest that strategies to reduce excessive smartphone use should extend beyond limiting screen time or enforcing stricter household rules.
Instead, the researchers recommended that schools, counselling centres and welfare agencies adopt integrated risk assessment systems capable of identifying childhood abuse, family conflict and emotional distress among adolescents exhibiting signs of smartphone dependence.
“Interventions for smartphone addiction among adolescents who have experienced abuse need to incorporate a trauma-informed care approach,” the report said.
The study also called for stronger referral networks to connect at-risk students with counselling and mental health services, child protection agencies and medical institutions.
The researchers concluded that South Korea should better integrate child abuse prevention efforts with programmes aimed at addressing digital addiction among adolescents, arguing that tackling the underlying emotional trauma is essential to reducing problematic smartphone use. - August 2, 2026
