Excessive smartphone use among multicultural adolescents in South Korea: Vulnerable groups and associated risk factors

BACKGROUND: Excessive smartphone use among adolescents contributes to poor mental health, social withdrawal, and disrupted sleep quality. In Korea, the population of multicultural adolescents has grown from 46,954 in 2012 to 181,178 in 2023, facing unique language and identity challenges that may amplify risks associated with media use. This study investigated the association between multicultural family status and smartphone use patterns among Korean adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 41,928 students who participated in the 2023 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS). Smartphone use was measured using self-reported data and a validated smartphone addiction scale. Multicultural status was defined based on parental country of birth, and associations were assessed using multivariate regression, adjusting for covariates such as socioeconomic status and parental education. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and multivariate regression models. RESULTS: Multicultural adolescents reported significantly higher mean daily smartphone usage compared with non-multicultural adolescents (360.50 vs. 306.78 min; P < .0001). After adjusting for covariates, multicultural status remained associated with increased usage (β = 20.25 min; P = .0002). Additionally, maternal immigrant status was more strongly associated with smartphone use (β = 18.50 min; P = .0021) than paternal status. Parental cohabitation and higher socioeconomic status were associated with lower smartphone use. CONCLUSION: Multicultural adolescents reported higher smartphone use than their non-multicultural peers with patterns varying by cultural and socioeconomic factors.