If you are afraid of being without your smartphone, it could be nomophobia

Advancing technological and dependence on electronic devices are nothing new. However, in a study developed in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, researchers identified the association between the frequent use of cell phones with the development of low self-esteem. This relationship was observed by negative results in cognitive tests.

Read more: How to reduce cell phone use by children without causing conflicts at home?

If you are afraid of being without your smartphone, it could be nomophobia

The excessive use of smartphones has become a social problem. Recent studies indicate that people who have this addiction are more likely to face loneliness and experience self-regulation deficits. In addition, withdrawal symptoms, for example, may appear in the absence of the device.

In the research carried out by Rosa Fabio, Alessia Stracuzzi and Riccardo Lo Faro, the relationship between the use of smartphones and behavioral and cognitive self-control deficits was investigated.

The research sample had 111 participants, aged between 18 and 65 years. More than half of them were workers (78%) and the rest university students (28%).

To capture information on the use of mobile applications, “SocialStatsApps” was used, and to assess addiction, the Smartphone Addiction Scale – Short Version (SAS-SV) was used. With this scale, it is possible to identify the risk of dependence and severity of each participant. To assess psychological aspects, questionnaires were also applied.

Study phases

The study was carried out in three phases. In the pre-test, the researchers evaluated the data available on SocialStatsApp. In the experimental phase, the participants received instructions to reduce their smartphone usage time to one hour a day for three days. In the post-test phase, participants were able to use the device without restrictions.

Thus, it was concluded that people with high levels of addiction, regardless of the phase, spent more time using their phones.

In addition, they had worse working memory, visual reaction time, auditory reaction time, ability to inhibit motor response and behavioral inhibition. This same group scored the lowest on the Psychological Indexes.

The authors of the study stated that people who were addicted had less self-control. As a limitation, the study showed the withdrawal of some participants when they found out that they would have to limit their smartphone use.