Prior studies have suggested a link between sleep problems and problematic smartphone use. However, the causal relationships between these two variables have not been identified, particularly in adolescence. Utilizing longitudinal panel data from Taiwan, this report examined the temporal relationships between sleep problems and problematic smartphone use among adolescents. One thousand and thirty-nine students (Grades 7-12) were surveyed at two-time points with a 6-month interval. The results of cross-lagged panel analysis showed that sleep problems at Time 1 significantly predicted problematic smartphone use at Time 2. Problematic smartphone use at Time 1 also significantly predicted sleep problems at Time 2. These findings applied to boys and girls and suggested that temporal relationships between sleep problems and problematic smartphone use among teenagers are reciprocal. Accordingly, increasing sleep quality may prevent future problematic smartphone use, while reducing problematic smartphone use may prevent sleep problems in adolescents.
Keywords: adolescents; cross-lagged panel analysis; problematic smartphone use; sleep problems.