Smartphones are essential for many university students, but such devices may have adverse consequences for their mental health. Moreover, previous empirical studies discovered a significant association between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and daily cognitive failures. The present study investigated the underlying mechanisms of this association, through the mediating effects of sleep quality and academic stress. 189 university students completed an online questionnaire, answering demographic and psychometric measures. The study showed that PSU was a significant predictor of daily cognitive failures. However, only academic stress partially mediated the relationship between PSU and daily cognitive failures. In other words, PSU was positively associated with academic stress, which in turn was positively associated with daily cognitive failures. The results of this study imply that preventing academic stress may improve the cognitive performance of problematic smartphone users. The limitations, areas for future research, and practical implications are discussed.
Keywords: Problematic smartphone use (PSU), sleep quality, academic stress, and daily cognitive failures