What the study found
Smartphone dependency was associated with lower creative thinking, a weaker growth mindset, and lower career maturity among high school students. Reading activities were associated with higher creative thinking, a stronger growth mindset, and higher career maturity.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that these findings expand theoretical understanding of adolescent career development in the digital age. They also say the findings have implications for smartphone usage guidance, reading education, and career education policy.
What the researchers tested
The researchers analyzed the relationship between smartphone dependency, reading activities, creative thinking ability, growth mindset, and career maturity in high school students. They used structural equation modeling on data from 5,800 students in the 8th year of the 2013 Korean Education Longitudinal Study, and tested mediating effects with bootstrapping using phantom variables.
What worked and what didn't
Smartphone dependency had a significant negative impact on creative thinking, growth mindset, and career maturity. Reading activities had a positive impact on all three. Growth mindset had the strongest positive influence on career maturity, with beta = 0.491 and p < .001, and the mediating effects of creativity and growth mindset were also significant.
What to keep in mind
The available summary does not describe specific limitations beyond the study’s dataset and focus on Korean high school students. The findings are based on one longitudinal study sample and the variables named in the abstract.
Key points
- Smartphone dependency was linked to lower creative thinking, growth mindset, and career maturity.
- Reading activities were linked to higher creative thinking, growth mindset, and career maturity.
- Growth mindset showed the strongest positive influence on career maturity (β=0.491, p<.001).
- Creativity and growth mindset both had significant mediating effects.
- The analysis used structural equation modeling with 5,800 students from KELS 2013.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Smartphone dependency and reading activities relate to career maturity
- Authors:
- Ha-Jeong KIM, Hyo-Heon WON
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-27
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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