Exploring Problematic Mobile Phone Attachment and Associations to Anxiety and Inhibitory Control After a Short-Term Smartphone Separation

[journal article]

Abstract

This study investigates problematic smartphone attachment under conditions of short-term smartphone separation. Two experimental studies with randomized group allocation were designed to investigate effects of smartphone separation on anxiety and inhibitory control. Problematic smartphone use pathwa... view more

This study investigates problematic smartphone attachment under conditions of short-term smartphone separation. Two experimental studies with randomized group allocation were designed to investigate effects of smartphone separation on anxiety and inhibitory control. Problematic smartphone use pathways were explored using a self-report measure. In the first experiment (N= 85) smartphone addicted participants showed an increase in state anxiety after 20 min of separation from their smartphones compared to a control group of non-addicted participants. There was no evidence for impaired inhibitory control based on a period of smartphone separation. In the second experiment the methodology was slightly varied, and the participants (N= 95) were provided with a task during a smartphone separation of 15 min. This led to a reduction of state anxiety for problematic attached participants but did not result in a change for unproblematic attached participants. Problematic attached participants showed a larger disturbance in inhibitory control undergoing a separation period than unproblematic attached participants. Moreover, the results provide supplementary evidence for the existence of specific problematic smartphone attachment pathways and further variables.... view less

Keywords
cell phone; anxiety; control; addiction; mental disorder

Classification
Psychological Disorders, Mental Health Treatment and Prevention
Interactive, electronic Media

Free Keywords
inhibitory control; problematic mobile phone use; smartphone addiction; smartphone separation

Document language
English

Publication Year
2022

Page/Pages
p. 107-130

Journal
Journal of Cyberspace Studies, 6 (2022) 2

DOI
https://doi.org/10.22059/jcss.2022.345698.1077

ISSN
2588-5502

Status
Published Version; peer reviewed

Licence
Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0