Understanding compulsive smartphone use: An empirical test of a flow-based model

Smartphones have gained significant popularity. With the rising concerns of compulsive smartphone use, understanding how smartphone users develop compulsive behaviors is crucial. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of flow in the formation of compulsive smartphone use. Drawing upon the flow theory, we incorporate the psychological state of flow as a key factor in our research model. We identify its determinants based on the desirability–feasibility perspective and reinforcement sensitivity theory. We empirically test our model by conducting an online survey with 384 valid responses. We expect that our findings can provide noteworthy insights on the formation of compulsive smartphone use.