The Association of Fatalistic Determinism With Problematic Smartphone Use in Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study Assessing the Mediating Roles of Self-Control and Grit.

BACKGROUND

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) poses a significant risk to nurses' well-being and may have potential implications for patient safety. Although fatalistic determinism may contribute to addictive behaviors, its relation to PSU and the underlying psychological mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined the association between fatalistic determinism and PSU among nurses and the potential mediating roles of self-control and grit.

METHODS

This quantitative, cross-sectional study collected data from nurses in several hospitals in Sichuan Province, China, between July and August 2025. Participants completed validated questionnaires measuring fatalistic determinism, self-control, grit, and PSU. Statistical analyses began with descriptive statistics, correlation testing, and a check for common method bias, followed by multiple mediation modeling to examine the direct and indirect effects (statistical associations) of the study variables.

RESULTS

A total of 429 registered nurses (mean age = 34.46 years, range = 19-60; 93.7% female) participated in this study. Fatalistic determinism showed a moderate-to-large correlation with PSU (r = 0.37, p < 0.001). Self-control and grit both independently and statistically mediated this relationship (all β > 0.03, 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: [0.01, 0.17]). Critically, both sequential mediation pathways were found to be statistically significant: Model 1 (specifying self-control before grit: β = 0.04, 95% CI: [0.01, 0.07]) and Model 2 (specifying grit before self-control: β = 0.07, 95% CI: [0.03, 0.11]). All findings persisted even after controlling for sociodemographic factors and job stress.

CONCLUSION

Fatalistic determinism was associated with PSU among nurses, and this association showed indirect effects through both self-control and grit. The interrelated nature of these variables suggests that interventions targeting either self-regulatory domain may have synergistic benefits.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: To mitigate PSU in nursing staff, nurse managers and leaders should consider implementing multilevel strategies that address maladaptive fatalistic beliefs while simultaneously fostering impulse control and long-term goal commitment.