Abstract
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Smartphones have consistently served as the primary device for internet access among younger populations. Recent research demonstrates that more than 25% of Chinese adolescents experience smartphone addiction. This study aims to examine the association between family upbringing environment and Mobile Phone Dependence Syndrome (MPDS) among middle school students in Guangzhou. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? This study demonstrates that middle school students whose fathers had educational attainment levels of junior high school [odds ratio (OR)=0.39, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.17-0.90], senior high school, junior college, technical secondary school, or vocational university (OR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.12-0.67), or a bachelor's degree and above (OR=0.34, 95% CI: 0.12-0.92) may function as a protective factor against MPDS among adolescents. Additionally, students whose fathers employed an authoritarian parenting style (OR=1.98, 95% CI: 1.22-3.21) are also associated with middle school students' MPDS. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? These findings indicate that democratic parenting approaches and higher educational attainment among fathers play essential roles in mitigating adolescent MPDS, providing valuable guidance for developing evidence-based strategies and interventions aimed at promoting adolescent physical and mental health.