i

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

Saying No to Temptation: A Correlational Study on Problematic Phone Use and Ego-

Depletion among Selected College Students in
Pamantasan Lungsod ng Valenzuela

Principal Author:
Ametin, Monique Tessamae S.
Arboya, Kimberly Dawn P.
Bonifacio, James Christian O.
Capidos, Regil Kert G.
Claron, Janeth M.
Lozano, Jairus G.
Macatuggal, Jamille R.
Molina, Ricardo B.
Novejas, Angela G.

Ms. Carmencita Aquino

September 2022
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Endorsement Letter

I have thoroughly examined the research manuscript entitled “Saying No to Temptation: A

Correlational Study on Problematic Phone Use and Ego-Depletion among Selected College Students in
Pamantasan Lungsod ng Valenzuela” prepared and submitted by Angela G. Novejas, Jairus G. Lozano,
Jamille R. Macatuggal, James Christian O. Bonifacio, Janeth M. Claron, Kimberly Dawn P. Arboya,
Monique Tessamae S. Ametin, Regil Kert G. Capidos and Ricardo B. Molina, Jr. This is purposely for
partial fulfillment of the requirement subject of Field Methods in Psychology and lectured by myself, Ms.
Carmencita Aquino for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology and hereby find that it is bearable
for presentation to a final oral defense panel. I am prepared for a pre-defense conversation if the panelists
have any concerns about the quality of this study.

Signed by:

MS. CARMENCITA AQUINO

Instructor

Date: December 20, 2022

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Certificate of Originality

This is to certify that this research paper is original work done by the researchers. It is the product of the
researchers’ collaborative ideas from the data gathered with the guidance of the experts who assisted in
developing the research, especially in style, presentation, and vocabulary expression. This work does not
contain any information that has been previously published, written by someone else, or information in a
university or another higher education institution, excluding where appropriate credit is given in the text.

Candidates:

Angela G. Novejas
Jairus G. Lozano
Jamille R. Macatuggal
James Christian O. Bonifacio
Janeth M. Claron
Kimberly Dawn P. Arboya
Monique Tessamae S. Ametin
Regil Kert G. Capidos
Ricardo B. Molina, Jr.

Date: December 20, 2022

Attested by:
MS. CARMENCITA AQUINO
Instructor

Date: December 20, 2022

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Abstract

Problematic mobile phone use has recently drawn more attention due to the growing prevalence of
mobile phones. Despite the fact that self-control was proven to be a key predictor of problematic mobile
phone usage, no study has ever looked at the relationship between ego-depletion and mobile phone use
patterns or a potential mechanism by which problematic mobile phone use might influence ego-depletion.

The study employed correlational research design. Hence, standardized tests to summarize traits
and Pearson correlation coefficient as the statistical tool were used in order to determine the relationship
of the two variables - problematic phone use and ego-depletion in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela
college students .

The participants' phone use was found to be problematic in nature. In spite of knowing that it is not
right, their phone use significantly interferes with their performance on their priorities. It was also found
out that the participants depend on their mobile phones in order to attain satisfaction. Moreover, there is a
positive correlation between the students' score on the Depletion Sensitivity Scale and Problematic Use of
Mobile Phone Scale. Meaning to say, the higher the students' ego-depletion, the higher their problematic
phone use will be and vice versa.

Keywords: Ego-depletion, problematic phone use, self-control.

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Table of Contents

Endorsement Letter ............................................................................................................................... ii

Certificate of Originality .......................................................................................................................iii

Abstract...................................................................................................................................................iv

Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................................v

1.0. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1

1.1. Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................................... 1
1.2. Research Hypothesis ................................................................................................................... 1
1.3. Conceptual Framework .............................................................................................................. 1
1.4. Definition of Terms ..................................................................................................................... 2

2.0. Review Related Literature ........................................................................................................ 3

2.1. Local Study ................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1.1. Ego Depletion ....................................................................................................................... 3
2.1.2. Problematic Phone Usage .................................................................................................... 4
2.2. Smartphone Evolution and the Detrimental impact behind its beneficial usage ...................... 5
2.3. Ego Depletion from a Resource Perspective and from an Alternative Perspective ................... 6
2.4. Interrelation of Ego Depletion and Problematic Smartphone Usage ........................................ 8
2.5. Synthesis ....................................................................................................................................... 9

3.0. Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 10

3.1. Research Design ......................................................................................................................... 10
3.2. Research Locale ......................................................................................................................... 10
3.3. Key Informant Selection and Sampling Technique .................................................................. 11
3.4. Research Ethics .......................................................................................................................... 12
3.5. Research Instrument .................................................................................................................. 12
3.5.1. Screening Tool .................................................................................................................... 13
3.5.2. Problematic Use of Mobile Phones (PUMP) ...................................................................... 13
3.5.3. Depletion Sensitivity Scale (DSS) ....................................................................................... 13
3.6. Data Collection .......................................................................................................................... 14
3.7. Data Analysis.............................................................................................................................. 14

4.0. Results ....................................................................................................................................... 14

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4.1. Level of College Students’ Problematic Phone Usage and Ego Depletion .............................. 15
4.2. Relationship between Ego Depletion and Problematic Phone Use .......................................... 16

5.0. Discussion.................................................................................................................................. 17
5.1. Conclusion.................................................................................................................................. 19
5.2. Recommendation ........................................................................................................................ 20

Reference .............................................................................................................................................. 21

Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ 25

Appendix A - Informed consent.......................................................................................................... 26

Appendix B - Screening tool................................................................................................................ 28

Appendix C - Standardized Test......................................................................................................... 32

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1.0. Introduction

The prefatory information focuses on the overall summary course of the researcher's
study and how it all manifests the probable inquiry to be found for the following section of the
study.

1.1. Statement of the Problem

This paper will succor to scrutinize the two (2) variables presented in the study:
the smartphone's temptation and ego depletion. The purpose of this study is to see if there
is a link between phone use and ego depletion among college students in Pamantasan ng
Lungsod ng Valenzuela. Furthermore, to address the research inquiry, tackle the problem,
and enable to scheme a hand to the participants of the study, the following research
questions were explored:
1. What are the domains of being high level in problematic phone use among college
students?
2. What is the level of college students’ ego depletion?
3. Is there a significant relationship between problematic phone use and ego
depletion?

1.2. Research Hypothesis

It is hypothesized that there is a significant relationship between problematic phone

use and ego depletion among college students.

1.3. Conceptual Framework

Problematic Phone Use Ego Depletion

Figure 1. Conceptual Paradigm

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Accordingly, this study is grounded on the fact that being a problematic phone user
correlates to one’s depleted ego once the participants of this study experience being
exposed to such factors resulting to present or constitute difficulty in daily life. Thus, it is
set forth in Figure 1. Conceptual Paradigm the double-headed arrows indicate a linkage to
each other.

1.4. Definition of Terms

Adolescent. A young person who has outgrown childhood but has not yet reached
adulthood.

Ego-Depletion. It happens when people expend all their available willpower on one task
and as a result, they are unable to exert the same level of self-control on subsequent, often
unrelated tasks.

Nomophobia. When people develop a fear of becoming disconnected from their mobile
phone connectivity, it is known as NOMOPHOBIA or NO MObile PHone PhoBIA.

Problematic Phone Use. An inability to regulate one's use of the mobile phone, which
eventually has detrimental effects on day-to-day life.

Satisfaction. Refers to the fulfillment or enjoyment of mobile phone use among

participants.

Self-Regulation. The ability to recognize and manage one's own behavior and reactions to
feelings and events in one's environment.

Standardized Test. A test that is administered and scored in a consistent and standard
manner for all test takers.

Temptation. A strong urge to possess or engage in behavior despite knowing you should
not.

Tolerance. Defined as spending increasing amount of time on smartphone use

Willpower. Pertains to the ability to exercise control over one's own thoughts and actions.
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2.0. Review Related Literature

This part of the paper focuses primarily on analyzing the review-related literature
and the interrelationship of the problematic use of smartphones among teens in Filipinos,
which affects and results in the ego depletion of every individual. The researchers found
that the following studies were of significant use throughout terms of contributing notions
and insights to the current study.

2.1. Local Study

2.1.1. Ego Depletion
A study by Barrera et al. (2015) shows that social factors associated with
addictions are correlated to the social effects of having poor self-control. In order for people
to "function" in a self-regulation feedback loop, self-control is a combination of abilities,
skills, and behaviors, according to Gillebaartthe (2018). Low self-control is characterized
by impulsivity, insensitivity, physical (as opposed to mental), risk-taking, short-
sightedness, and non-verbal behavior, all of which are traits of addictive and similar
behavior. According to a study on internet use, outcomes, and role of regulation in the
Philippines, a lack of self-regulation or internal regulation in media behavior can become
a habit, which may later lead to behavioral addictions rather than a means to an end
(Hechanova & Ortega-Go, 2014). According to Hechanova and Ortega-Go (2014),
regulation of oneself has been a good predictor of positive outcomes of internet use—
greater productivity and personal enhancement. They found that internal regulation is
negatively related to social harm and addiction. They suggested that developing users'
ability to self-regulate is more critical in enabling the productive use of the internet.

Ego-depletion theory holds that self-regulation, such as managing emotion,

consumes a limited amount of "willpower" (Policarpio, 2016). Ego depletion is the belief
that while we all have some degree of self-control or willpower, doing so requires mental
energy. Our capacity to make logical decisions is a limited resource that can be depleted
by decision overload and excessive exhaustion because it is limited, just like any other
resource that can be used up. Here, the term "ego" is used in the psychological sense to
refer to the organized and analytical aspect of thought that strikes a balance between our
materialistic impulses and moral ideals. Moreover, Portes and Estel (2016) stressed the
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significance of choice and willpower in relation to reintegration and recidivism. Based on

the study's findings, self-sufficiency, interpersonal skills, accountability for one's conduct,
willpower, and choice in choosing to live a more responsible lifestyle despite being in the
same setting led to their conviction. Therefore, a task that requires more willpower to self-
regulate requires more effort, which uses up more willpower that may be used for other
tasks.

2.1.2. Problematic Phone Usage

A study by Buctot, Kim, and Kim (2020) found that teenagers spend much time on
their smartphones today. They struggle to function in their daily lives without these
technological devices. Anyone can experience anguish when their mobile phone or Wi-Fi
connection is lost. The study by Buctot et al. (2020) looked at the frequency of problematic
phone use and nomophobia, or the no mobile phone phobia, among Filipino teenagers and
how those things relate to adolescent lifestyle profiles (ALPs). The subdomains of positive
life perspective, health responsibility, physical activity, interpersonal relationships,
nutrition, stress management, and spiritual health were particularly affected by
nomophobia and smartphone addiction in ALPs. As a result, guidelines for smartphone use
ought to be followed both at home and in the classroom. Additionally, preventative
measures should be put in place to encourage healthy lifestyles among adolescents and
avoid the worsening of nomophobia and problematic usage of phones.

Another study from Buctot et al. (2020) about factors associated with smartphone
addiction prevalence and its predictive capacity for health-related quality of life (HRQoL)
among Filipino adolescents supported the latter by stating that one out of three Filipinos
reported that they could not survive without their mobile phones (Roa, 2012, as cited in
Buctot et al., 2020) and the average daily time spent by Filipinos on online media through
their smartphones is 10.3 hours (Statista, 2019, as cited in Buctot et al., 2020). The
researchers also cited that there are five identified symptoms of smartphone addiction
namely: the disregard for harmful consequences, preoccupation, inability to control
craving, productivity loss, and feeling anxious and lost. In this study, they concluded that
the prevalence rate of smartphone addiction among Filipino adolescents is high.
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2.2. Smartphone Evolution and the Detrimental impact behind its beneficial
usage

In accordance with Nisha et al. (2016), a smartphone is one of the many devices
produced by the technology's rapid advancement. People are more likely to spend their
time on social networking, business emails, playing games, finding information, and
academics. As technology advances, including smartphones which become easier and more
convenient to use with the presence of the internet, it cannot be disregarded that almost all
of the transactions of people who are using mobile phones can be performed just by using
these technological devices. Nearly 95% of Americans own a cell phone, and 77% have a
smartphone. In 2014, 1.85 billion individuals used smartphones worldwide. By 2017 and
2020, that number is projected to advance to 2.32 billion and 2.87 billion (Cha & Seo,
2018). Further, mobile phones have become the preferred communication method for
people in the past decades, particularly among young individuals. Young adults (ages 18
to 22) will make up the most extensive and fastest-growing segment of the nation's 156.5
million mobile phone users by the year 2022 (Kemp, 2022). Thus, it adds up to the factor
why most people have spent most of their time consuming the said gadget, and it becomes
problematic in the long run of technology. Problematic mobile phone use, defined as one's
compulsive use of mobile phones, which generally gives rise to negative consequences in
various aspects of life, has attracted increasing attention (Sun et al., 2022). Young people
now have greater convenience and better opportunities to create and maintain social
networks because of the widespread use of smartphones. The study conducted by Carbonell
et al. (2018) shows how powerful smartphones, the internet, and social media intersect.
According to them, the perception of young people's problematic internet and mobile
phone use has increased from 2006 to 2017. The drawbacks of excessive cell phone use
are becoming more apparent and have been proven in numerous studies. For instance,
frequent mobile phone usage before sleeping has been linked to depression symptoms (Cha
& Seo, 2018).

In another study by Harris et al. (2020), it was stated that while it is true that the
arrival of mobile phones has been a blessing due to all of the benefits it comes with, it is
also true that the usage of these devices is becoming very alarming because of people's
excessive use which becomes problematic in nature. Moreover, it is not the mere ownership
of mobile phones that increases the concern regarding the said topic but rather the
possibility of dysfunction associated with the utilization of mobile phones. In addition,
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problematic use is defined as an inability to control mobile phone use, which eventually
has detrimental effects on day-to-day life. More simply, using mobile phones becomes
problematic when the user cannot regulate their electronic device usage, which affects them
negatively (Harris et al., 2020). Not only that, but problematic attachment to mobile phones
is also associated with lowered social skills, emotional intelligence, and empathy, as well
as social anxiety and loneliness, implying that problematic use of smartphones may result
in interpersonal dysfunction (Harris et al., 2020; O'Connor et al., 2013).
Owing to the extensive use of cellular phones, problematic mobile phone use has
recently drawn more attention. Jiang and Zhao (2016) looked into the correlation between
self-control and mobile phone use habits and how it was demonstrated to be the primary
indicator of problematic mobile phone use. With the help of several statistical tests, the
researchers conducted their study on 468 randomly picked college students. This note
explicitly stated that female students had a noticeably higher level of smartphone
dependence than appears to have done male students. Self-control was positively connected
with information acquisition consumption habits but adversely correlated with
interpersonal, transactional, and entertainment mobile phone use patterns. Through
interpersonal and transactional patterns, self-control could, directly and indirectly, foretell
problematic mobile phone use. As such, researchers highlighted the fact that problematic
mobile phone use and self-control had a dysfunctional correlation. So far, it has been seen
that interpersonal and transactional use tendencies mediated this link.

2.3. Ego Depletion from a Resource Perspective and from an Alternative

Perspective

Wielding sufficient one's self-control truly succors the betterment usages of every
course of action by different people, this is a positive efficacy whenever a person has more
concentration, and the rough going is attenuated. "It is the capacity to which an individual
can override a dominant response in favor of an alternative, more effortful course of action"
(Hagger et al., 2016, p. 547). According to Zhao et al. (2022), controlling oneself is crucial.
Sublime self-control is gainful in a variety of ways. High self-control individuals may be
more fruitful and have stronger interpersonal interactions. Conversely, whenever there is
an aloft enlivenment with regards to the grip of a person's habitude, the arousal of lower
resistance manifests (Markowitz et al., 2019) and is defined as ego depletion (ED)—when
one endeavor emits all of a person's available willpower (Bishop, 2017). Moreover,
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individual self-control resources are depleted in huge quantities during ego depletion. Ego
depletion is the result of the exhaustion of one's capacity to exercise self-control after a
time of demanding activity (Ding et al., 2020). This term was coined by Baumeister,
Bratslavsky, Muraven, and Tice (2017) to refer to the consequences of asserting lesser self-
control on a planned course of action whenever a preceding activity necessitated self-
control. Physical endurance, perseverance, mood control, performance in logical choice
tests, sexual desires, violence after being provoked, and various interpersonal interactions
have all been shown to have ED consequences. Exclusively, people cannot exercise the
same amount of restraint on subsequent unrelated activities. It solely means that willpower
is related to self-control, a finite amount of limited resources, and whenever the feasible
energy utilizes, the possible lead is the state of ego depletion.

Baumeister and Maranges (2016) outlined that self-control resources are utilized
during the results of countless tasks and functions that might give rise to and be impacted
by ego depletion. As such, the study has conclusively proven that exerting self-control
throughout one frame of reference inhibits eventual control in other situations; hence, other
unlinked tasks need it. Additionally, as self-control overrides spontaneous urges and
actions, the depletion particularly impacts controlled processes. This impact on the
controlled processes shows that top-down control is diminished as self-control is depleted.
The use of it might also help anyone resist temptation or any other impulses to develop a
particular habit. Thus far, one may fall back on passivity when resources for self-control
are lacking since initiative and action also provide self-control and energy. Considering
that depletion induces an increase in a multitude of passive behaviors and that it exerts a
detrimental effect on higher-level cognitive functions as it also interferes with the control
of test anxiety.

Existing research into self-control that is grounded on the sequential task approach
is currently at an impasse. Thus far, the lack of empirical research that checks explicit
assumptions about the founding aim is essentially to blame for this. One key is that the
untested premise that underlies the strength model of self-regulation will deteriorate with
time on a task that consumes self-regulatory resources. In addition, the current research has
looked at whether depletion effects would ensue in real time using letter-crossing tasks that
did not entail habit-forming and breaking, as well as whether various modes of
administration influenced these effects. All of the investigations used different sample
sizes, demographics, and response formats. The results of the five studies revealed a
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discrete and recurrent pattern of growing performance impairment as a function of task

completion, with primarily significant effects. In the fifth study, the potency of the
significant adverse transfer effects to a cognitive task was related to individual disparities
in depletion. These findings indicate that letter-crossing tasks exhibit some type of
depletion. However, it is necessary to continue investigating whether this is due to a
depletion of a pool of internal regulatory resources or to some other parameter that changes
with time (Arber et al., 2017).

2.4. Interrelation of Ego Depletion and Problematic Smartphone Usage

Singh and Göritz (2018) state that the intensity of the ego depletion effect varies
greatly depending on the depleting action utilized. Also, one of the inhibitory controls does
not merely entail the fault for being ego depleted. The disorder in one's personal ambiance
is also one of the grounds for causing remarks. It is harder to exercise when one's ego is
depleted and more complex to one's regulation and environment, resulting in less
accountability. As a result, determining which structures are linked to ego depletion will
aid in resolving the existing dispute around the impact. This study will only emphasize one
construct: the problematic usage of teenagers in their mobile phones (Dang, 2017). The
researcher set forward to measure the correlation between whether ego depletion interferes
and has high volatility with poor utilization of one's smartphone user. It streams the reversal
of fortune, and when the dark side of self-control is piqued, a temptation triggers every
person to suffice the desirable feeling of guts inside them. It permits people to allow the
emotional experience to occur, and sometimes outstripping emotions will lead to
something adverse. Ainslie (2020) claimed that the countless self-regulatory cases of
failure brought on by worn-out willpower could be avoided by resisting temptation. After
all, if the impulse never occurs, the risk of giving in to it is significantly less. It is sublimely
accurate that resisting temptation on its own requires self-control; it calls for planning
ahead, reasonable anticipation, and self-awareness. The approach of resisting temptation
may be most advantageous for those with poor self-control, but they may also be the least
inclined to adopt it.

At the peak of all shreds of evidence, a correlational study will be presented in this
study to traverse the repudiating link and collision of ego depletion. It will hereby study
the problematic correlation of smartphone temptation to the chosen respondents, it will be
 9

conducted to offer people a better understanding of ego depletion temptation, and it will
provide a strategy on how to better deal with temptations, so they might feel more in control
or regulate themselves to other tasks they have by wielding the grip needed in every
necessary situation with management and less of exhaustion. Hence, this study will acquire
a more precise and up-to-date definition of ego depletion proposed in the existing literature
disregarding the importance of effortful self-control strategies. For that, it will emphasize
providing effortful self-control strategies.

2.5. Synthesis

To commence the inquiry of this research, it encompasses the investigation of the

correlation between smartphone temptation and its usage; the researcher seeks to relate the
opposite factor of self-control, ego depletion, in which the respondents will acquire new
strategies for the betterment usage and spiral of productivity of oneself by using their
smartphones. One related to ego depletion is willpower; it encompasses mental skills such
as control, cognitive reasoning, schemes, and decision-making; they comprise the batteries
of ego depletion potency. Its influence varies greatly depending on the depleting methods
utilized, also study implies that internal regulation is negatively related to social harm and
addiction. To wield certain activities with mastery involves skill regulation and discipline
by employing any necessary activity otherwise, the buzz of impulsivity, lack of
compassion, physical (not mental) risk-taking, short-sightedness, and non-verbal behavior,
are all addictive traits of poor self-control. Self-adequacy, healthier lifestyle, interpersonal
skills, personal responsibility, willpower, and choice fueled their conviction. Thus, a task
that takes more willpower to self-regulate drains other willpower.

To append and as an upshot, ego depletion is still traversed across the globe.
Studies have suggested that Filipino teens are addicted to smartphones. Overlooking
damaging effects, obsession, inability to moderate impulses, productivity loss, and feeling
appalled and alienated are indicators of smartphone addiction. Since the pandemic, people
have been more engrossed in gadgets, accessing and browsing everything via technology.
The rapidly evolving patterns and goals in smartphone usage among young people assisted
in attenuating some of the crisis's ramifications. The attention that brought people the
precarious impression of the crisis raised the capability of the people to have peripheral
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management to themselves. Such actions of volition drain some crucial resources of the
self; suppressing one's emotions or overriding one's impulses need self-control.

3.0. Methodology

This part of the research discussed the study's methodology. It encompassed all of the
procedures, instruments, and approaches utilized during the research process that resolved the
research inquiry and the problem needed to take action. The following subsections below
comprise all essential and necessary information to narrow down the focal point of the study.

3.1. Research Design

The quantitative technique and survey will be used to collect information to

emphasize the characterizing of a trend or phenomena among participants and provide the
chance to summarize traits among groups and relationships. In order to assess the
relationship between problematic phone use and ego depletion, a correlational research
design will be administered in the study. In a correlational study, relationships between
two or more variables are determined. This statistical test is able to determine the tendency
or pattern for two (or more) variables or two sets of data to vary consistently (Creswell
2012, as cited in Ardianti, 2018). It will aid researchers in investigating whether an increase
or decrease in one variable is accompanied by an increase or decrease in another.
Furthermore, the findings from correlational research can be used to foresee occurrences
based on existing data and determine the prevalence and correlations among various factors
(Curtis et al., 2016).

3.2. Research Locale

The study will be conducted at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela, a locally

funded university that caters to students from low-income families, particularly those that
reside in the city. The university offers a wide array of programs: College of Arts &
Sciences, College of Business, Accountancy, Public Administration, College of Education,
 11

and College of Engineering and Information Technology. It is located at Maysan Road,

Valenzuela City, National Capital Region, Philippines.

The researchers selected the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela to gather

significant information from the college students needed in this study. However, the survey
will be conducted virtually due to the circumstances brought about by the occurrence of
the pandemic.

3.3. Key Informant Selection and Sampling Technique

The present study will be focusing on college students from Pamantasan ng

Lungsod ng Valenzuela, and in fact, they are still in the adolescent stage of their lives,
which means they are at the peak of their brain plasticity. The human brain is especially
susceptible to change during the first few years of life. It is why early education was given
importance. However, brain science now says that the adolescence stage is just as
important. It is revealed that adolescence is the second period of increased plasticity.
Therefore, the brains of adolescents are particularly vulnerable to changes. In addition, the
brain's plasticity enables people to create new neural pathways that direct constructive and
productive behaviors instead of harmful ones; thus, College students will be the most fitting
respondents for this paper (Kanwal, 2015). Not to mention, according to Statista (2022),
95% of people who are aged 18 to 49 own a smartphone, and College students qualify in
this respect.

When choosing participants, the researchers would take into account variables,
such as the participants' level of problematic phone usage and their age. The researchers
would use purposive sampling, which refers to a group of non-probability sampling
techniques where units are selected because they have characteristics that are needed in the
sample. Selecting participants with traits related to the research inquiry is the main goal of
purposeful sampling. Purposive sampling strategies, according to Nikolopoulou (2022),
can give researchers the information they need to draw various kinds of generalizations
from the sample under study, even while statistical inferences from the sample to the
population cannot be made. It can also give the researcher access to a variety of tools that
can be used to determine whether a phenomenon merits further study. The research's goals,
which include determining whether there is a connection between ego depletion and mobile
 12

phone use among Generation Z college students in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela,

will be more effectively addressed as a result.

3.4. Research Ethics

It is crucial to take precautions to ensure that the rights of the respondents are
safeguarded and that they are protected from any kind of physical, social, psychological,
or other harm. Ethical research standards must be adhered to when doing the research,
which the researchers have taken into consideration. Researchers are responsible for
conducting this correlation study entailing the scale provided for the inquiry of the study.

To guarantee research's commitment, researchers will confide in respondents'

information to remain and uphold within the study, including the privacy and anonymity
of respondents. Aside from that, test developers ensure that the content is free of plagiarism
and research misconduct and should only represent accurate results. Before distributing the
instrument questionnaires, researchers will provide an informed consent letter to ensure
willingness and not forcefully participate in the process. Zukauskas et al. (2018) claim that
it is to ensure that the participants were aware of the objectives of the research being carried
out and which also adheres to the ethical standard of the Psychological Association of the
Philippines. The participants must be allowed to voluntarily participate in the research or
withdraw from it at any time. Before deciding whether they would participate in the study,
participants were given further information on the benefits, objectives, and potential
dangers associated with the investigation. The participants have the option to respond to
the survey questions based on the time that is most convenient for them. The provided
survey form of the researcher included the contact information so that the participants may
ask them for further explanations or any other questions about the research being done.

3.5. Research Instrument

In this study, the researchers utilized two standardized instruments to determine

the correlation between problematic mobile phone use and ego depletion.
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3.5.1. Screening Tool

The researchers will use a standardized questionnaire to determine the ego

depletion the participants feel whenever they give in to problematic mobile phone usage.
Since each tool has good psychometric properties and scores, it will enable the researchers
to gather the information consistently and impartially, as scoring and interpretations have
already been provided.

3.5.2. Problematic Use of Mobile Phones (PUMP)

The Problematic Use of Mobile Phone (PUMP) was developed by Merlo et al.
(2013) to evaluate both actual and potentially problematic mobile phone use, including (1)
depressive symptoms and (2) self-esteem. All items were rated on a 5-point scale, ranging
from 1 = “strongly disagree” to 5 = “strongly agree.”

Regarding its psychometric abilities, PUMP's item-total correlations with the

overall scale ranged from medium (>.30) to high (>.50), which is indicative of tests that
ask for behaviors and feelings that a minority of respondents take part in, including
problematic user patterns or addictive behaviors. With regard to reliability, the PUMP's
internal consistency, which measured 0.91, was excellent and comparable to that of the
previous form, for which Cronbach's alpha 0.94 was reported.

3.5.3. Depletion Sensitivity Scale (DSS)

The Depletion Sensitivity Scale (DSS) consists of 15 Likert-statement items that

each describe a sort of situation in which a person's capacity for self-control may be
exhausted, such as after actively repressing an urge or after making a number of decisions
and are then immediately followed by a statement about the experience of exhaustion. All
responses are scored on a 7-point scale that ranges from 1 (absolutely agree) to 7 (totally
agree). High scores on these items, for instance, are anticipated to imply high depletion
sensitivity.

For its psychometric properties, exploratory factor analysis of this standardized

test produces factors with scores of 4.42, 1.57, 1.40, 1.27, and 1.07, respectively. When the
study was repeated, the results showed that the first factor's items were loaded on it at a
coefficient of 0.40. Nevertheless, the scale items were highly reliable, with a Cronbach's
 14

alpha of 0.83. The DSS's mean score was 4.13 (SD = 0.87), with scores ranging from 2.09
to 6.09, showing that depletion sensitivity ratings are very varied.

3.6. Data Collection

The researchers utilized data from the selected respondents of the said school
through a survey questionnaire conducted virtually to inquire about and suffice the problem
presented in this study. The primary scheme of this survey is to detect the correlation
between being a problematic user of a smartphone and one's depleted ego. It also includes
some of the demographic information of the respondents and thus confides with integrity
to the whole process.

3.7. Data Analysis

In this part, two components of respondent data were collected: first, a screening
tool to determine if a response measures a significant degree of being a problematic phone
user; and second, questionnaires for this ego depletion investigation. Participant
demographics, knowledge, perceptions, behavior, and attitude are typical subjects for
addressing this data. This data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) Version 20.

This data was reported as averages, frequencies, and percentages. The Pearson
correlation coefficient test was used to assess the relationships between the dependent and
independent variables for the variables listed above.

4.0. Results

This chapter offers a comprehensive presentation and analysis of the study's data
analysis and findings. The following categories are used to present the findings: The
Problematic Mobile Phone Use and Depletion Sensitivity Scale The primary determinant of
response was the propensity of respondents to be problematic phone users, which corresponds
to the fact that their self-control or willpower draws from a limited supply of mental resources.
 15

4.1. Level of College Students’ Problematic Phone Usage and Ego Depletion

Figure 1.

Sum of the Mean Scores of every Domain of PUMP

PUMP SCALE
Use despite social or interpersonal… 3.4
Use in physically hazardous situations… 2.9
Failure to fulfill role obligations (15,16) 3.2
PUMP Domains

Use despite physical or psychological… 3.69

Activities given up or reduced (11,12) 3.73
Craving (9, 10) 3.44
Great deal of time spent (7,8) 4.12
Longer time than intended (5,6) 4.19
Withdrawal (3,4) 3.61
Tolerance (1,2) 3.89

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5

Mean

Figure 1 showed that there is a noticeable difference among the mean of domains
of the PUMP scale: Longer time intended (4.19), Great deal of time spent (4.12), and
Tolerance (3.89) dominated the chart. These only prove that the selected participants have
problematic use of their phones and that the way they use their phones hinders them to
perform their priorities despite being conscious of it not being right. Also, the data show
the participants’ dependency on their mobile phones to feel satisfaction.

Table 1.
Sum of Scores and Mean of PUMP and DSS scale

Sum of Scores Mean Interpretation

PUMP Scale 72.38 3.61 High

 16

DSS 60.58 5.51 High

The table 1 showed the sum of scores of the two variables, the mean and their
verbal interpretation. The Problematic Use of Mobile Phone Scale (PUMP) was used as a
screening tool to identify whether a participant is qualified in the study. Out of 112
participants, only 50 participants are qualified. The general weighted mean of the PUMP
Scale is 3.63 which can be interpreted that all selected participants' responses are somewhat
agree. In addition, the mean of the 20-item PUMP test is above 2.9 which indicates that
the majority of the respondents' responses are ‘neither agree nor somewhat agree’ on the
20 statements.

Thereafter with the screening tool, the researcher filtered all the respondents that
meet the requirements for ego depletion level of one’s individual by utilizing the tool
Depletion Sensitivity Scale. It manifests in Table 1. Sum of Scores and Mean of PUMP
and DSS scale that the overall findings are high (3.63 General Weighted Mean) in the
verbal interpretation. For this instance, DSS showed that the majority of the respondents
are aligned to the spectrum of approving they have this pruning capacity for their volition.

Altogether, the results showed in these two tools that preponderance of the
responses had a high level of problematic phone usage and ego depletion sensitivity.

4.2. Relationship between Ego Depletion and Problematic Phone Use

Table 2.

Correlations between Problematic Mobile Phone Use and Ego Depletion

 17

In Table 2, it shows here the utilized 0.01 level of hypothesis and a two-tailed
measure to measure the data if both mean of the variable is significantly greater than or
less than in the chosen sample size of the community of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng
Valenzuela. And since the displayed r-computed value which is 0.531 is greater than the
tabular value of 0.393, the null hypothesis is disconfirmed.

Figure 2.
Scatterplot of Problematic Mobile Phone Use and Ego Depletion

The manifestation of scatterplot for both variables presented in this study are seen
in Figure 2 (above), the representing y-axis is the Depletion Sensitivity Scale and for x-
axis is the screening tool of the research (Problematic Use of Mobile Phone). The extent
of correlation in this graph means that there is a positive correlation between the PUMP
and DSS scores of students. It implies that the higher the scores they get in the PUMP, the
higher also are the scores they get in the DSS and vice versa.

5.0. Discussion

The researchers looked into the connections between problematic phone use and
the ego depletion experienced by college students in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng
Valenzuela in response to the current prominence of advanced technologies in the modern
world. The present study found that problematic phone use and ego depletion are positively
correlated. These findings suggest that, in both directions, participants’ PUMP scores
correlate positively with their DSS scores.
 18

The table showed the average mean of the domain in the Problematic Use of
Mobile Phone Scale (PUMP). The average mean of the first domain "Tolerance (1,2)" is
3.89. The "Withdrawal (3,4)" domain is 3.61. The third domain was the "Longer time than
intended (5,6)" with the average mean of 4.19. The "Great deal of time spent (7,8)" domain
has an average mean of 4.12. The "Craving (9,10)" domain has an average of 3.44. Also
the domain "Activities given up or reduced (11,12)" has an average mean of 3.73. As well
as the "Use despite physical or psychological problems (13, 14)" domain has an average of
3.69. In addition to that, "Failure to fulfill role obligations (15,16)" domain has an average
of 3.2. While the next domain is the "Use in physically hazardous situations (17,18)” with
the average mean of 2.9. The last domain which is the "Use despite social or interpersonal
problems (19,20)” with the average mean of 3.4.

With these means, the researchers noticed that selected participants got higher
scores on certain domains compared with other PUMP domains. The domains namely,
Tolerance, Longer time than intended, and Great deal of time spent, dominated which only
validated that the participants have a problematic usage of their phone. The data collected
showed the participants’ dependence on their mobile phones, that in order for them to be
satisfied, they must spend a great amount of their time on this gadget that later hinders
them to perform their priorities and is making them unable to stop themselves despite being
aware that this behavior is not appropriate.

Thenceforth, the opt-in participants for the PUMP preside over the high extent of
findings; it connotes the aforementioned information for the satisfaction of the first
research’s problem and succeeds in assessing the level of ego depletion of the selected
participants by the utilization of DSS. Besides, the outcome for this scale also displayed a
high level, which highlights the insufficient capacity to mediate oneself between the tasks
and one’s willpower and mental resources for the subsequent actions they might take.
Although the predominance findings unveil the peak of explication, there is still a minority
of analysis wherein two participants manifested a low degree of being depleted and yet
considered as high in being problematic phone users. The notion that ego-depleted
participants take part in high portions on a regular basis in the academia, which suffice the
site utilized by the researcher, and other possible factors resulting in and/or might aggravate
ego depletion have significant ramifications.
 19

Based on the data findings in this study as shown in presentation and analysis of
data, it is clearly upholding that there is a significant relationship between Problematic
Phone Use and Ego Depletion among Selected College Students in Pamantasan ng
Lungsod ng Valenzuela. Moreover, an increase in the problematic mobile phone usage of
the students would result in an escalation of their ego depletion. Meaning to say, there is a
positive correlation between the two variables, the more the students use their mobile
phone in a problematic manner and in a way that is problematic, the more they would draw
on their mental resources that are needed to exercise self-control, thus resulting in a state
of ego depletion.

5.1. Conclusion
This research intends to look for the correlation between the two given variables,
which are smartphone's temptation and ego depletion. To further comprehend the link
between the two, the researchers made a more rigorous investigation and statements of the
two variables.

In accordance with the data that the researchers acquired, the means of the
Problematic Mobile Phone Use Scale's domain still demonstrate observable differences
despite being at a similarly high level. It merely asserts that college students' use of mobile
phones has a significant impact on them as they perceive a high smartphone usage further,
it undergoes well across their actions and will. Additionally, the individuals' Ego Depletion
Sensitivity scores were high, suggesting that they lack the ability to exert self-control when
performing particular tasks. The students show a temporary reduction in the capacity for
self-control that calls upon their willpower and mental resources.

The findings clearly demonstrate that the present study's hypothesis, which
suggests that there is a significant relationship between problematic phone use and ego
depletion among college students, is substantiated. From the data that was acquired, both
scales for the two variables reached high levels, which demonstrated their causal relation.
In light of this, an increase in mobile phone use among participants may also lead to an
increase in ego depletion, simultaneously.
 20

5.2. Recommendation

This study has contributed to the understanding of students' problematic phone use
and its relation to ego depletion. As the study went on, a few areas that could potentially
be the subject of future research emerged. The following are the recommendations that the
researchers would like to make to future researchers who wish to do research related to
problematic phone use and ego depletion. First, the demographic profile of the participants
should be scrutinized in order to compare data among categories, including gender and
ages. Furthermore, in pursuing a quantitative study, a wide range of sample sizes should
be considered, as this can be beneficial to the final data and obtaining excellent results from
the study. Also, because the data gathering procedure was conducted online, the researchers
were not able to monitor participant situations, including environmental factors, mental,
and physical conditions of participants. Lastly, aside from correlational research design,
future researchers might consider the use of experimental research design, to better observe
the causal relationship of problematic phone use and ego depletion among participants.
 21

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Appendices
 26

Appendix A - Informed consent

INFORMED CONSENT

Please read this document carefully. Your signature is required for this participation. You must
be at least 18 years of age to give your consent to participate in research. If you desire a copy of
this consent form, you may request one and we will provide it.

Problematic Phone Use and Ego Depletion Greetings! We are third-year students from
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela, taking up Bachelor Science in Psychology. We are doing
a correlational study that aims to look at the participants' problematic usage of smartphones and
how it relates to and affects ego depletion. The study adheres to full voluntary participation; thus
all participants are expected to anticipate and answer our questionnaires related to our two
variables.

As technology advances, mobile phones have become the preferred communication

method for people in the past decades, particularly among young individuals. Thus, it adds up to
the factor why most people have spent most of their time consuming the said gadget, and it becomes
problematic in the long run of technology. Young people now have greater convenience and better
opportunities to create and maintain social networks because of the widespread use of smartphones.
However, since the pandemic, people have been more engrossed in gadgets, accessing and
browsing everything via technology. The rapidly evolving patterns and goals in smartphone usage
among young people assisted in attenuating some of the crisis's ramifications. The attention that
brought people the precarious impression of the crisis raised the capability of the people to have
peripheral management to themselves, where such actions could suppress one's emotions and
overrides one's impulses need self-control, leading to ego depletion.

For us to be able to determine which participants must be appropriate for this study, we
have used the Problematic Use of Mobile Phone (PUMP), as screening tool, to evaluate both actual
and potentially problematic mobile phone usage. This study also requires participants that are
currently studying at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela. If you have fulfilled the necessary
qualifications, we are asking for your full and active cooperation in answering the standardized test
Depletion Sensitivity Scale (DSS), to describe a sort of situation in which a person's capacity for
self-control may be exhausted, such as when they had use of their mobile phones.
 27

There will be no risk involved in this study except for your valuable time and your
participation in this study is completely voluntary. The participant has the right to decline
participation in the research at any time he/she feels to do. Further, you have the right to withdraw
at any time, without prejudice, and your responses will be removed in data analyses or result
interpretation. All the information gathered during this study will be confidential and will only be
viewed by the researchers involved in this research. The information or data submitted by you will
be kept confidential, as we adhere to the Data Privacy Act of 2012. Only the researchers will have
access to it, and any of your identifiable data will not be uncovered at any time.

If you have further questions or inquiries, you may contact the group research
representative, Mr. Ricardo B. Molina, on Facebook, or at his email address:
molinajeje21@gmail.com.

Signing this informed consent means that you fully understand all the information
mentioned above and are partially ready to be part of this study.

Statement of Consent:

I have read the procedure and understand the consent described above. I also have received a copy
of this description, and I voluntarily want to be part of this research study.

________________________ ___________________
Signature over Printed Name Date
 28

Appendix B - Screening tool

Tally Scores Interpretation Mean

63 HIGH 3.15

69 HIGH 3.45

78 HIGH 3.9

66 HIGH 3.3

79 HIGH 3.95

60 HIGH 3

66 HIGH 3.3

80 HIGH 4
66 HIGH 3.3

75 HIGH 3.75

68 HIGH 3.4

78 HIGH 3.9

66 HIGH 3.3

72 HIGH 3.6

78 HIGH 3.4

79 HIGH 3.95

71 HIGH 3.55

67 HIGH 3.35
71 HIGH 3.55

74 HIGH 3.7

63 HIGH 3.15

65 HIGH 3.25

67 HIGH 3.35
71 HIGH 3.55

71 HIGH 3.55

70 HIGH 3.5
 29

64 HIGH 3.2

64 HIGH 3.2

66 HIGH 3.3

74 HIGH 3.7

69 HIGH 3.45

62 HIGH 3.1

64 HIGH 3.2

64 HIGH 3.2

70 HIGH 3.5
67 HIGH 3.35

71 HIGH 3.55

84 HIGH 4.2
71 HIGH 3.55

80 HIGH 4

83 HIGH 4.15

85 HIGH 4.25

75 HIGH 3.75

79 HIGH 3.95

93 HIGH 4.65

72.38 HIGH 3.61

Total: 72.38 HIGH 3.61

Summary of Mean and Verbal Interpretation

Statements Mean Verbal Mean

Interpretation
1. When I decrease
the amount of time
spent using my cell
phone I feel less 3.80 Agree
satisfied.
(Tolerance) 3.89
2. I need more time
3.98 Agree
using my cell phone
 30

to feel satisfied than

I used to need.
(Tolerance)
3. When I stop using my cell phone, I get moody and
3.26 Neutral
irritable. (Withdrawal) 3.61
4. It would be very difficult, emotionally, to give up
3.96 Agree
my cell phone. (Withdrawal)
5. The amount of time I spend using my cell phone
keeps me from doing other important work. (Longer Agree
4.18
time than intended)
6. I have thought in the past that it is not normal to
spend as much time using a cell phone as I do. 4.19
4.2 Agree
(Longer time than intended)
7. I think I might be spending too much time using
4.4 Strongly Agree
my cell phone. (Great deal of time spent)
8. People tell me I spend too much time using my cell 4.12
phone. (Great deal of time spent)
3.84 Agree

9. When I am not using my cell phone, I am thinking

about using it or planning the next time I can use it. Agree
3.76
(Craving)
10. I feel anxious if I have not received a call or 3.44
Neutral
message in some time. (Craving) 3.12
11. I have ignored the people I’m with in order to use
Neutral
my cell phone. (Activities given up or reduced) 3.2
12. I have used my cell phone when I knew I should
be doing work/schoolwork. ((Activities given up or 3.73
reduced) Strongly Agree
4.26

13. I have used my cell phone when I knew I should

be sleeping. (Use despite Physical or Psychological
Strongly Agree
problems) 4.22
14. When I stop using my cell phone because it is
3.69
interfering with my life, I usually return to it. (Use
3.16 Neutral
despite Physical or Psychological problems)
15. I have gotten into trouble at work or school
because of my cell phone use. (Failure to fulfill role
2.86 Neutral
obligations)
16. At times, I find myself using my cell phone instead
of spending time with people who are important to me
and want to spend time with me. (Failure to fulfill role
obligations) 3.2
3.54 Agree

17. I have used my cell phone when I knew it was

dangerous to do so. (Use in physically hazardous 3.2 Neutral
situations)
 31

18. I have almost caused an accident because of my

cell phone use. (Use in physically hazardous 2.9 Neutral 3.05
situations)
19. My cell phone use has caused me problems in a
relationship. (Use despite social or interpersonal 3.31 Neutral
problems)
20. I have continued to use my cell phone even when
3.4
someone asked me to stop. (Use despite social or 3.5 Agree
interpersonal problems)
General Assessment 3.63 Agree

Summary of the Mean Scores and each Domains

Domain Mean Verbal Interpretation

Tolerance (1,2) 3.89 Agree

Withdrawal (3,4) 3.61 Agree

Longer time than intended (5,6) 4.19 Strongly Agree

Great deal of time spent (7,8) 4.12 Strongly Agree

Craving (9, 10) 3.44 Agree

Activities given up or reduced (11,12) 3.73 Agree

Use despite physical or psychological problems (13, 14) 3.69 Agree

Failure to fulfill role obligations (15,16) 3.2 Neutral

Use in physically hazardous situations (17,18) 2.9 Neutral

Use despite social or interpersonal problems (19, 20) 3.4 Agree

 32

INTERPRETATION

Below 46 shows lower levels of depletion

46 nd above shows higher levels of depletion

Appendix C - Standardized Test

Tally Scores Interpretation Mean

65 HIGH 5.91

54 HIGH 4.91
75 HIGH 6.81

63 HIGH 5.73

62 HIGH 5.64

49 HIGH 4.45

62 HIGH 5.64
64 HIGH 5.82

54 HIGH 4.91
67 HIGH 6.09

54 HIGH 4.91

71 HIGH 6.45

69 HIGH 6.27

57 HIGH 5.18
68 HIGH 6.18

66 HIGH 6

64 HIGH 5.81

55 HIGH 5

61 HIGH 5.55

57 HIGH 5.18

50 HIGH 4.55
 33

47 HIGH 4.27

52 HIGH 4.73

43 LOW 3.91

71 HIGH 6.45

63 HIGH 5.73

60 HIGH 5.45

38 LOW 3.45

66 HIGH 6

67 HIGH 6.09
53 HIGH 4.82

58 HIGH 5.27

50 HIGH 4.55
49 HIGH 4.45

71 HIGH 6.45

65 HIGH 5.91

52 HIGH 4.73

64 HIGH 5.82

63 HIGH 5.73

69 HIGH 6.27

52 HIGH 4.73

73 HIGH 6.64
53 HIGH 4.82

61 HIGH 5.55

71 HIGH 6.45

71 HIGH 3.55

72 HIGH 3.6
81 HIGH 4.05

84 HIGH 4.2

87 HIGH 4.35
 34

Total: 60.58 HIGH 5.51

INTERPRETATION

Less than 62 = LOW

62 = AVERAGE

Greater than 62 = HIGH