In this study the aim was to examine the mediation role of smartphone addiction in the association between mindfulness/impulsivity and psychological distress. The participants consisted of 343 (178 [54.8%] male and 147 [45.2%] female) university students from five different universities in Turkey. Cross-sectional data were gathered using self-report. The mediation role of smartphone addiction was examined with structural equation modelling, and bootstrapping procedures were used to determine indirect effects. The results showed that mindfulness negatively predicted smartphone addiction and psychological distress, with impulsivity positively predicting smartphone addiction and psychological distress. Smartphone addiction positively predicted psychological distress, partially mediating the relationship between mindfulness/impulsivity and psychological distress.