Volume 22, Issue 3 (10-2026)
J Health Syst Res 2026, 22(3): 587-597 |
Back to browse issues page
Research code: A-10-1011-1
Ethics code: IR.IAU.KHUISF.REC.1403.025
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Fadaei F, Kadkhodaee M. The Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas and Existential Anxiety in Excessive Mobile Phone Use: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation in Dental Students (A Cross-Sectional Study). J Health Syst Res 2026; 22 (3) :587-597
URL: http://hsr.mui.ac.ir/article-1-1976-en.html
URL: http://hsr.mui.ac.ir/article-1-1976-en.html
1- MSc Student, Department of Psychology, Mo, C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Mo, C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Mo, C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract: (231 Views)
Background: In recent years, mobile phone usage has emerged as a significant factor influencing people's lives, especially among students. Given that early maladaptive schemas, anxiety, and emotion regulation are known contributors to excessive mobile phone use, the present study aimed to examine the role of early maladaptive schemas and existential anxiety in excessive mobile phone use, with emotion regulation as a mediating factor, among dental students at the University of Isfahan, Iran.
Methods: This study employed a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population comprised all 692 dental students at the University of Isfahan, from which 248 were randomly selected. Data collection instruments included Young Early Maladaptive Schemas Questionnaire (YEMSQ), Good's Existential Anxiety Scale (EAS), Gennaro et al.'s Cell-phone Over-use Scale (COS), and Gross and John's Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Data analysis was conducted using correlation tests and structural equation modeling (SEM) via SPSS and SmartPLS software.
Findings: The model examining early maladaptive schemas and existential anxiety in relation to excessive mobile phone use, with emotion regulation as a mediating factor among students, demonstrated a satisfactory goodness-of-fit. The positive effect of early maladaptive schemas on excessive phone use (β = 0.58, t = 6.900, P < 0.001), the negative effect of emotion regulation on excessive phone use (β = −0.213, t = 2.361, P = 0.019), the negative effect of existential anxiety on emotion regulation (β = −0.333, t = 2.351, P = 0.035), and the negative effect of early maladaptive schemas on emotion regulation (β = −0.351, t = 2.497, P < 0.001) were all confirmed. However, the effect of existential anxiety on excessive phone use (β = 0.140, t = 1.125, P = 0.241) was not significant.
Conclusion: Based on these findings, it can be concluded that enhancing emotion regulation, managing symptoms of existential anxiety, and addressing early maladaptive schemas may significantly reduce dental students' tendency to overuse smartphones.
Methods: This study employed a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population comprised all 692 dental students at the University of Isfahan, from which 248 were randomly selected. Data collection instruments included Young Early Maladaptive Schemas Questionnaire (YEMSQ), Good's Existential Anxiety Scale (EAS), Gennaro et al.'s Cell-phone Over-use Scale (COS), and Gross and John's Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Data analysis was conducted using correlation tests and structural equation modeling (SEM) via SPSS and SmartPLS software.
Findings: The model examining early maladaptive schemas and existential anxiety in relation to excessive mobile phone use, with emotion regulation as a mediating factor among students, demonstrated a satisfactory goodness-of-fit. The positive effect of early maladaptive schemas on excessive phone use (β = 0.58, t = 6.900, P < 0.001), the negative effect of emotion regulation on excessive phone use (β = −0.213, t = 2.361, P = 0.019), the negative effect of existential anxiety on emotion regulation (β = −0.333, t = 2.351, P = 0.035), and the negative effect of early maladaptive schemas on emotion regulation (β = −0.351, t = 2.497, P < 0.001) were all confirmed. However, the effect of existential anxiety on excessive phone use (β = 0.140, t = 1.125, P = 0.241) was not significant.
Conclusion: Based on these findings, it can be concluded that enhancing emotion regulation, managing symptoms of existential anxiety, and addressing early maladaptive schemas may significantly reduce dental students' tendency to overuse smartphones.
Keywords: Early maladaptive schemas, Existential anxiety, Emotion regulation, Excessive use of mobile phones
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
health Psychology
Received: 2025/01/12 | Accepted: 2025/07/16 | Published: 2026/10/7
Received: 2025/01/12 | Accepted: 2025/07/16 | Published: 2026/10/7
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
