The relationship between childhood trauma and mobile phone addiction: A chain mediated model

Mobile phone addiction has become a prominent social issue. This study investigated the association between childhood trauma and mobile phone addiction, using a sample of 728 Chinese college students who completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Life History Strategy Scale, Delay of Gratification Scale, and Mobile Phone Addiction Scale. The results indicated that childhood trauma had a positive correlation with mobile phone addiction, and negative correlations with life history strategy and delayed gratification. Life history strategy exhibited a positive correlation with delayed gratification and a negative correlation with mobile phone addiction. Delayed gratification demonstrated a negative correlation with mobile phone addiction. Furthermore, childhood trauma positively predicted mobile phone addiction, with life history strategy and delay of gratification serving as chain mediators in this relationship. This study provides important insights for developing strategies to prevent mobile phone addiction among college students.