Objective:

To estimate the prevalence and severity of problematic smartphone use (PSU) among French psychology students and examine various correlates and predictors of PSU severity.

Approach:

• Study Design: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 973 psychology undergraduate and master's students from two French universities.
• Data Collection: Participants completed measures of PSU, smartphone use behaviors, social resources, cognitive functioning, impulsivity, personality traits, future-self connection, mental health, and academic functioning.
• Data Analysis: Correlation analyses, multivariate linear regression, and moderation/mediation analyses with bootstrapping were performed.

Key Findings:

• Mean PSU score was slightly below the midpoint of the 1–7 scale.
• Prevalence of PSU ranged from 1.64% to 5.14% using conservative estimation; 25% exceeded the cut-off score of 4.14 according to an alternative estimation method.
• Higher PSU scores were observed among younger students, women, bisexual participants, and undergraduates.
• Impulsivity was the strongest predictor of PSU, followed by smartphone-related problems, smartphone use frequency (SUF), and working memory difficulties.
• Lower social support, lower conscientiousness, higher neuroticism, poorer mental health, and greater academic-smartphone use interferences were associated with higher PSU.

Interpretation:

Sleep difficulties, depressive mood, and self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between SUF and PSU severity. Community engagement and future-self connection unexpectedly strengthened the SUF–PSU association.

Limitations:

• The study is limited to psychology students, which may not represent the broader student population.
• Self-reported measures may introduce bias.

Conclusion:

PSU is a relevant issue among French psychology students, highlighting the need for interventions focusing on self-regulation, emotional coping, and context-specific academic smartphone use.