The Effect of Mindfulness on Smartphone Addiction: The Mediating Role of Self-regulation Learning and the Moderating Role of Digital Detox

Mindfulness has been extensively studied for its role in reducing addictive behaviors, including smartphone addiction. However, the underlying mechanisms involving self-regulation learning and digital detox in this association remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of self-regulation learning and the moderating role of digital detox in the relationship between mindfulness and smartphone addiction among 1,241 Chinese college students from Shandong Xiehe University. Participants completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), the Self-Regulation of Learning Self-Report Scale (SRL-SRS), and the Digital Detoxification Scale (DDS). The results found that mindfulness was negatively associated with smartphone addiction, and self-regulation learning partially played a mediating role in this association. Further analysis revealed that digital detox moderated the relationship between self-regulation learning and smartphone addiction. These results suggest a complex interplay where mindfulness reduces smartphone addiction through improved self-regulation learning, with digital detox further enhancing this effect. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the association between mindfulness and smartphone addiction, emphasizing the importance of promoting self-regulation learning and digital detox strategies.