Effects of adolescent smartphone addiction on cybersexual delinquency

We analyzed the relationship between smartphone addiction and cybersexual delinquency in a sample of Korean adolescents; further, we specifically delineated and analyzed the risk factors for smartphone addiction. Statistical analyses were performed based on the responses to a survey conducted with 1,020 high school students across South Korea. Results showed that adolescent smartphone addiction had a significantly positive effect on the likelihood of accessing cybersexual content and the frequency of engaging in cyber-verbal violence. Furthermore, the accessing of cybersexual content had a significantly positive effect on the frequency of engaging in cyber-verbal violence, and the frequency of engaging in cyber-verbal violence had a significantly positive effect on the development of cybersexual delinquency. Specifically, because adolescents are still in the process of developing socially, they are vulnerable to smartphone addiction; therefore, there is a need for appropriate interventions to be developed for use with this population.