The Self-Regulation and Smartphone Usage Model: A Framework to Help Athletes Manage Smartphone Usage

in The Sport Psychologist

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Poppy DesClouds School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5053-7194 *
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Natalie Durand-Bush School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

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https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6991-9881
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2022-0091
Keywords:
self-control; self-regulated learning; self-regulatory strength; depletion
First Published Online:
14 Feb 2023
In Print:
Volume 37: Issue 2
Page Range:
128–139
Restricted access

Self-regulation is essential for optimal development, performance, and well-being in sport, and smartphones may support and hinder this self-regulation. The relationship between smartphones and self-regulation has seldom been investigated in sport. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine self-regulatory processes, conditions, and outcomes related to athletes’ smartphone usage. Twenty-four competitive and high-performance athletes from eight sports participated in individual interviews informed by the models of self-regulated learning and self-regulatory strength. Themes created from a directed content analysis aligned with components of both models and were integrated with new themes to form the “Self-regulation and Smartphone Usage Model” (SSUM). The SSUM illustrates a cyclical model of self-regulation and smartphone usage across five components: self-regulation capacity, processes, conditions, outcomes, and competencies. While self-regulation demands can be increased because of smartphones and lead to depletion, smartphones can be powerful vehicles to strengthen self-regulation competencies.

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