Does Exhaustion Lead to Problematic Smartphone Use or Vice Versa?—A Loss of Control Perspective

Previous studies have demonstrated a significant positive correlation between emotional exhaustion and problematic smartphone use. However, the directionality of this relationship has not been extensively examined, and the potential causal mechanisms remain underexplored. This study investigates the bidirectional relationship between emotional exhaustion and problematic smartphone use in the workplace and examines whether sense of control mediates this relationship. Utilizing a four-month, three-time-point longitudinal design, the study involved 300 employees (65.00% female; Mage = 31.43). Bothe the cross-lagged panel analysis and random intercept cross-lagged panel analysis confirmed that the relationship between job-related emotional exhaustion and problematic smartphone use was bidirectional. The sense of control mediated this connection in the cross-lagged panel analysis but not in the random intercept cross-lagged panel analysis. These findings clarity the interplay between job-related emotional exhaustion and problematic smartphone use, offering insights into promoting workplace mental health in the digital era.