Problematic Smartphone Use and Aggressive Behavior Among University Students: The Mediating Role of Sleep Disturbance

Background: Despite several benefits, research has found that problematic smartphone use is positively associated with behavioral problems. However, the internal mechanisms underlying this relationship need further investigation. So, the current study aimed to investigate the mediating role of sleep disturbance in the relationship between problematic smartphone use and aggression. Methods: The research design was descriptive-correlational. Also, the study population included the male university students of the Islamic Azad University of South Tehran Branch in the academic year of 2019-2020. Using the convenience sampling method, a total number of 213 participants from two faculties (Faculty of Human Sciences and Faculty of Law and Political Sciences) were selected and tested by Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Then, the Pearson correlation and path analysis were conducted to analyze the data. Results: The results revealed the significant and direct effects of problematic smartphone use on aggression (β=0.12, P<0.05), sleep quality on aggression (β=0.37, P<0.001), and problematic smartphone use on sleep disturbance (β=0.42, P<0.001). Also, sleep quality significantly mediated in the relationship between problematic smartphone use and aggression (β=0.15, P