The purpose of this study was to empirically analyze the effect of smart phone addiction on sociality
development in high-graders of elementary school and to present policy-level and practical measures for
prevention of smart phone addiction based on results of analysis. A survey was conducted of 5th to 6th
graders of elementary school located at K City of Jeollanam-do. Data collected from 216 questionnaires
were used for analysis, excluding those containing insincere answers. The collected data were investigated
using SPSS 18.0, a statistical program, through factor analysis, reliability analysis, frequency analysis,
t/F-test, Scheffe post-hoc test, and regression analysis.
Major results of analysis were as follows: First, a difference was observed in extent of smart phone
addiction, depending on grade of elementary school students and time spent on use of smart phone(per
day). The extent of smart phone addiction was higher as the grade was higher and time spent on use of
smart phone(per day) was longer. Meanwhile, no statistically significant difference was observed in the
extent of smart phone addiction, depending on economic activities of parents, period of smart phone use,
and purpose of smart phone use. Second, smart phone addiction was found to have a statistically
significant negative(-) influence on sociality development. Sociability and autonomy, which were sub factors
of sociality development, had a negative(-) influence, while stability, instructability, and acceptability had a
positive(+) influence. Based on aforesaid results of analysis, this study presented recommendations such as
installation of smart phone addiction treatment room, deployment of professional therapists in schools,
reinforcement of social welfare services in schools, provision of family support services, development and
distribution of contents preventing smart phone addiction.