Smartphone Dependency and Parental Attitudes Effects on Students’ Academic Apathy

The rapid rise in smartphone use among adolescents has transformed modern education and communication, but has also introduced new behavioral risks. This study examines the relationship between academic apathy and smartphone dependency among Korean adolescents, with a specific focus on parental attitudes. Data were drawn from the Korea Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) Wave 2, using the Middle Cohort. Key variables included smartphone dependence, academic apathy, and parental attitude dimensions measured. Results showed that academic apathy significantly predicted smartphone dependency (𝜷 = 0.372, p < .001), indicating that disengaged students are more likely to rely on smartphones for distraction or gratification. Moderation analyses demonstrated that chaotic (𝜷 = 0.050, p < .001), rejecting (𝜷 = 0.074, p < .001), and coercive (𝜷 = 0.043, p < .001) parenting styles significantly strengthened the positive link between academic apathy and smartphone dependency. These findings highlight that negative parental attitudes amplify the impact of academic apathy on smartphone dependence, underscoring the importance of family dynamics in adolescent technology use. The results suggest that interventions addressing smartphone dependency should also focus on reducing household chaos and coercive parenting practices.