The Relationship between Psychosocial Factors and Cell phone-use related Risk Behavior in Junior High School Students

抄録

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between manners, norm-consciousness, sensation-seeking, and risk behaviors associated with cell phone use by junior high school students. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to junior high school students (269 male and 256 female) at 2 junior high schools. The questionnaire measured possession and use of cell phones, collisions, manners, norm-consciousness, sensation-seeking, and tolerance of risk behavior. The rate of cell phone use was 60.1%. A total of 65.1% of students used cell phones while walking, and 45.1% did so while riding a bicycle. The manner and norm-consciousness scores of students using cell phones while walking or riding a bicycle were lower than those who did not use cell phones. Moreover, sensation-seeking scale and acceptance of risk behavior of students used cell phones were higher than who did not use cell phones. Acceptance of risk behavior and sensation-seeking of students that had the experience of visiting Internet dating or adults-content sites on cell phones were higher than those who had no experience with such sites. Findings indicated that risk behavior associated with cell phone use was negatively related to manners and norm-consciousness, and positively related to sensation-seeking and acceptance of risk behavior.