The present study examined whether anxiety mediates the relationship between negative affect and smartphone addiction tendency, and whether mindset of anxiety moderates this indirect effect. Recent research highlights that women are more prone to smartphone addiction risk, emphasizing the importance of identifying psychological mechanisms and protective factors. A total of 231 female undergraduates from a four-year university in Seoul completed self-report questionnaires online. Using Process Macro Model 7 for SPSS, the analysis revealed that anxiety significantly mediated the relationship between negative affect and smartphone addiction tendency, while the direct effect was not significant. Furthermore, the mindset of anxiety moderated the indirect effect, such that a stronger growth-oriented mindset weakened the association. These findings suggest that cultivating a growth mindset could serve as a protective strategy against smartphone addiction in female college students. Given the malleability of mindsets through education and training, this study offers practical implications for promoting digital well-being and mental health within this population.
