Can limiting bedtime smartphone use improve next-day working memory among undergraduates with problematic smartphone use?

Zhihao Tu; Jingwen He; Ziying Wang; Chuan Wang; Jianquan Tian; Yunxiang Tang

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115371

Can limiting bedtime smartphone use improve next-day working memory among undergraduates with problematic smartphone use?

Psychiatry Res. 2023 Sep:327:115371. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115371. Epub 2023 Jul 27.

Authors

Zhihao Tu¹, Jingwen He², Ziying Wang³, Chuan Wang⁴, Jianquan Tian⁵, Yunxiang Tang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Navy Special Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China; Qingdao Special Servicemen Recuperation Center of PLA Navy, Qingdao, 266043, China.
² Department of Medical Psychology, NO.96110 Hospital, Yinchuan, 750021, China; Department of Psychology, Naval Medical University, Shangahi, 200433, China.
³ Navy Special Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education, Shangahi, 200433, China.
⁴ Navy Special Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education, Shangahi, 200433, China. Electronic address: hg04381@163.com.
⁵ Navy Special Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China. Electronic address: 13305321182@163.com.
⁶ Department of Psychology, Naval Medical University, Shangahi, 200433, China. Electronic address: tangyun7633@sina.com.

PMID: 37540944
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115371

Abstract

This study implemented a longitudinal self-control intervention experiment to examine whether limiting bedtime smartphone use can improve next-day working memory among individuals with problematic smartphone use (PSU). 156 Chinese undergraduates with PSU completed the 6-day experiment (3 nights for intervention condition and 2 nights for control condition). All participants were asked to complete N-back tests in the afternoon everyday during the experiment. The results indicated that limiting smartphone use in bed improved next-day working memory. Therefore, limiting smartphone use in bed is a potential remedy for daily cognitive impairments induced by PSU.

Keywords: Problematic smartphone use; Smartphone; Working memory.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Behavior, Addictive* / psychology
East Asian People
Humans
Memory, Short-Term*
Smartphone*
Students / psychology