The Perception of Risk and its Relation to the Problematic Use of the Mobile Phones by Adolescents

Abstract

The objective of this work is to determine those variables that are related to the problematic use of mobile telephones and risk perception by adolescents. A questionnaire was created on various sociodemographic variables, problematic use of the mobile telephone using the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale in Adolescents (MPPUSA) and an ad hoc scale to assess the perception of risk. Participants included 718 adolescents from the province of Cordoba (Spain), aged 10 to 18. The results indicate that being a girl, having had more than two mobiles on average, being younger and having a high risk perception are all related to the problematic use of mobile phones. Potential causes and the importance of promoting psycho-educational prevention and intervention programs are discussed.