The effect of the happiness and meaning of life of the university students in adolescent period on smartphone addiction

Aim: This research was conducted to investigate the efficacy of happiness and the meaning in life on smartphone addiction in adolescent university students. Material and Methods: The research was carried out cross-sectionally. The universe of the research consists of 1684 undergraduate students (1st grade) at vocational school of health, school of health science and other faculties of Muş Alparslan University located in the city center of Muş. The sample of the study was determined as 720 students through power analyses. The data were collected using the Socio-Demographic features form, Oxford Happiness Scale (OHS), Meaning of Life Scale (MLS) and Smart Phone Addiction Scale (SPAS). In the evaluation of the data, number, percentage, average, t test, variance analysis, pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis were used in independent groups. Results: It was found that a mean score for OHQ was 106.49 ± 18.89, a mean score for MLQ was 51.56 ± 11.65 and a mean score for SAS was 100.13 ± 29.54. While it is determined that there is no significant relationship between gender, age, department studied, parental education level, and happiness and meaning in life (P>0,05), whereas a significant relationship was found between age, mother education level, amount and frequency of daily smartphone usage and smartphone addiction (P<0,05), it has been determined that there is a significant relationship between adolescents' age, maternal education level, daily smartphone usage time, and daily smartphone control frequency and smartphone addiction (p <0.05). Conclusion: In the study, it was found that as the level of happiness of adolescents and the meaning of life increases, the level of smartphone addiction decreases. In addition, as the level of happiness of students increased, it was observed that the meaning in life increased. Kew words: Adolescent, Happiness, Meaning in Life, Smartphone Addiction