Prediction of Symptoms of Psychosomatic Disorders in University Students Based on Perfectionism Mediated by Smartphone Addiction

Among the main consequences of smartphone addiction are negative psychological effects, physical conditions, and psychosomatic disorders. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between perfectionism and symptoms of psychosomatic disorders mediated by smartphone addiction in university students.

The study was a descriptive correlation performed employing path analysis. The statistical population consisted of all students of the Islamic Azad University- Ahvaz Branch in the academic year 2020-2021, of whom 254 students were selected as the sample through convenience sampling. The data were collected using DSM-5 Somatic Syndrome Disorder Scale, Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), and Ahvaz Perfectionism Scale (APS). The evaluation of the proposed research model was performed using the path analysis method through AMOS-23.

The results showed that there was a direct relationship between perfectionism and smartphone addiction (β= 0.30, P= 0.001) and also a significant relationship between smartphone addiction and symptoms of psychosomatic disorders (β= 0.28, P= 0.001) in the university students. Moreover, the relationship between perfectionism and symptoms of psychosomatic disorders was completely mediated by smartphone addiction (β= 0.22, P= 0.001).

According to the results, the proposed model had a good fit. Therefore, training the youth in the correct use of smartphones can reduce the effects of perfectionism on symptoms of psychosomatic disorders.