Influence of perceived discrimination on problematic smartphone use among Chinese deaf and hard-of-hearing students: Serial mediating effects of sense of security and social avoidance.

Background: Reducing the rate and impact of problematic smartphone use (PSU) among deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) students has become a social issue. Research has suggested that perceived discrimination is associated with PSU, although the underlying mechanism of this association for DHH students is not clear.

Aims: This study explored the mediating roles of sense of security and social avoidance in the association between perceived discrimination and PSU among Chinese DHH students.