The impact of type of content use on smartphone addiction and academic performance: Physical activity as moderator

Abstract Smartphone addiction and its negative effects on academic performance have received attention from both scholars and practitioners. The gist of this study is to explore the impact of the type of content use on smartphone addiction and academic performance by considering physical activity as a potential moderator. The data were gathered from 250 undergraduate students and statistically analysed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique. The results show that entertainment, social networking sites, and game-related use have positive effects on smartphone addiction. Although study-related use has a positive effect on academic performance, game-related use has a negative effect. Furthermore, physical activity moderates negatively the impact of game-related use on academic performance. The results extend the literature on smartphone addiction by introducing physical activity as a preventive factor and will be useful for policymakers and parents to understand the importance of developing and promoting physical activity among young adults.