Published Paper Details:

Since COVID-19, the time spent on the smartphone has increased [1]. Increased use of smartphones might lead to problematic usage which can have negative effects on physical and mental health [2]. Studies have concluded that problematic smartphone usage is positively associated with mind wandering [3]. Thus, an increase in problematic smartphone usage will result in increased mind wandering. Both problematic smartphone usage and mind wandering resulted in poor academic performance, road accidents, academic procrastination, sleep problems, loneliness, anxiety, and depression [4]. Studies have shown that young adults engage in problematic smartphone usage and they report more mind wandering. Also, people use their smartphones [5] and mind wandering [6][7] as a coping strategy to deal with negative thoughts and emotions, which is maladaptive. These factors make the intervening of these variables the need of the hour. The present study aimed to find the effectiveness of mindfulness-based intervention that addresses difficult thoughts and emotions on problematic smartphone usage and mind wandering among college students in Chennai. The sample consisted of 70 female college students between the ages 18-22 years. The 70 students were randomly assigned to intervention (n=35) and control group (n=35). Results revealed that at post-intervention a significant difference in the problematic smartphone usage (t (30) =6.611, p< 0.001) and mind wandering (t (30) =6.165, p< 0.001) scores were observed in the intervention group whereas no difference was observed in the control group. The effect size of the intervention was also found to be large for problematic smartphone usage (d= 1.6) and mind wandering (d= 1.5). In conclusion, mindfulness-based intervention that addresses difficult thoughts and emotions can reduce problematic smartphone usage and mind wandering among college students in Chennai.