Smartphone addiction as a barrier to intrinsic motivation: The role of task value and self-efficacy

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, task value, and smartphone addiction. To examine the relationship between smartphone addiction and intrinsic motivation, a mediation model was developed, in which self-efficacy and task value acted as mediating variables. The Smartphone Addiction Scale and Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire were administered to 534 high school students to collect data. The results revealed statistically significant negative relationships between smartphone addiction and students’ intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, and task values. Additionally, self-efficacy and task value were found to be possible mediators within the model. These findings suggest that smartphone addiction may lead to a decrease in students’ intrinsic motivation by reducing their self-efficacy and task value. In conclusion, although smartphone use enhances our daily lives, it may also have negative effects on certain affective variables that play an important role in the learning process, as demonstrated in this study.