Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Impact of Smartphone Use on the Psychosocial Wellness of College Students

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Digital Transformation and Global Society (DTGS 2018)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 859))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Researchers suggest that excessive smartphone use is correlated with negative psychosocial effects, particularly among younger adults—causing feelings of isolation, depression/anxiety, and restlessness. This pilot study on psychosocial wellness, of 22 college students—measured the impact of smartphone use on emotion/mood, dependency, addiction, purpose of life, social communications, and self-consciousness. For our data analysis, we measured frequency with conversion percentages (of 35 questions) using a seven-point Likert-scale of strongly disagree- to-strongly agree, while averaging the scores of each question group pertaining to each hypothesis. While only 22% agreed they were addicted to smartphone use, 68% reported constantly checking their smartphone, with 57% agreeing that they were smartphone dependent. The majority agreed that smartphone use increased anxiety, stress, and feelings of impatience, if their phone was not with them. While the majority agreed that the smartphone is their primary means of communication, 90% agreed that nothing is more fun than using their smartphone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ingold, T.: Eight themes in the anthropology of technology. Soc. Anal. 41, 106–138 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Yang, C.C., Brown, B.B., Braun, M.T.: From Facebook to cell calls: layers of electronic intimacy in college students’ interpersonal relationships. New Media Soc. 16, 5–23 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444812472486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Basics, T.V.: A Report on the Growth and Scope of Television. Television Bureau of Advertising (2012). http://www.tvb.org/

  4. Bohn, R.E., Short, J.E.: How Much Information? 2009 Report on American Consumers. University of California, San Diego, Global Information Industry Center (2009). http://hmi.ucsd.edu/pdf/HMI_2009_ConsumerReport_Dec9_2009.pdf

  5. Roberts, D.F., Foehr, U.G.: Trends in media use. Futur. Child. 18, 11–37 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Pew Research Center Internet & Technology. Mobile Fact Sheet (2018). http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheet/mobile/

  7. Katz, J.E.: Mainstreamed mobiles in daily life: perspectives and prospects. In: Handbook of Mobile Communication Studies, pp. 433–446 (2008). https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262113120.001.0001

    Google Scholar 

  8. Fortunati, L.: Electronic Emotion: The Mediation of Emotion via Information and Communication Technologies, pp. 1–31. Peter Lang, Oxford (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Silva, S.R.: On emotion and memories: the consumption of mobile phones as ‘affective technology’. Int. Rev. Soc. Res. 2, 157–172 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1515/irsr-2012-0011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Gross, J.J., Thompson, R.A.: Emotion Regulation: Conceptual Foundations, pp. 3–24. Guilford Press, New York (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Lazarus, R.S.: Emotion and Adaptation. Oxford University Press, New York (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Smith, A., Rainie, L., Zickuhr, K.: College students and technology. Pew Research Center Internet & Technology (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Thomée, S., Härenstam, A., Hagberg, M.: Mobile phone use and stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression among young adults-a prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health 11, 66 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Harrison, M.A., Gilmore, A.L.: U txt WHEN? College students’ social contexts of text messaging. Soc. Sci. J. 49, 513–518 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2012.05.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. The Mobile Consumer: A Global Snapshot. Nielsen Holdings, New York (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lee, U., Lee, J., Ko, M., Lee, C. et al.: Hooked on smartphones: an exploratory study on smartphone overuse among college students. In: Proceedings of the 32nd Annual ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 2327–2336 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Weiss, M.D., Baer, S., Allan, B.A., Saran, K., Schibuk, H.: The screens culture: impact on ADHD. Atten. Deficit Hyperact. Disord. 3, 327–334 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Healy, J.M.: Endangered Minds: Why Children Dont Think And What We Can Do About I. Simon and Schuster, New York (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Zhou, Y., Lin, F.C., Du, Y.S., Zhao, Z.M., Xu, J.R., Lei, H.: Gray matter abnormalities in Internet addiction: a voxel-based morphometry study. Eur. J. Radiol. 79, 92–95 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Perlow, L.A.: Sleeping with Your Smartphone: How to Break the 24/7 Habit and Change the Way you Work. Harvard Business Review Press, Brighton (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Whitbourne, S.K.: Your smartphone may be making you… not smart (2011). https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201110/your-smartphone-may-be-making-you-not-smart

  22. Chirico, D.M.: Building on shifting sand the impact of computer use on neural & cognitive development. Wald. Educ. Res. Inst. Bull. 2, 13 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kormas, G., Critselis, E., Janikian, M., Kafetzis, D., Tsitsika, A.: Risk factors and psychosocial characteristics of potential problematic and problematic internet use among adolescents: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 11, 595 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-595

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Lenhart, A., Madden, M.: Teens, Privacy and Online Social Networks. How teens manage their online identities in the age of MySpace. Pew Internet & American Life Project Report (2007). http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2007/PIP_Teens_Privacy_SNS_Report_Final.pdf.pdf

  25. Weinstein, A., Lejoyeux, M.: New developments on the neurobiological and pharmaco-genetic mechanisms underlying internet and videogame addiction. Am. J. Addict. 24, 117–125 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.12110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. O’Keeffe, G.S., Clarke-Pearson, K.: The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families. Pediatrics 127, 800–804 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-0054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Small, G.W., Moody, T.D., Siddarth, P., Bookheimer, S.Y.: Your brain on Google: patterns of cerebral activation during internet searching. Am. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 17, 116–126 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181953a02

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Contractor, A.A., Weiss, N.H., Tull, M.T., Elhai, J.D.: PTSD’s relation with problematic smartphone use: mediating role of impulsivity. Comput. Hum. Behav. 75, 177–183 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.05.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Kim, Y., Jeong, J., Cho, H., Jung, D. et al.: Personality factors predicting smartphone addiction predisposition: behavioral inhibition and activation systems, impulsivity, and self- control. PloS One 11, e0159788 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159788

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Roberts, J., Yaya, L., Manolis, C.: The invisible addiction: Cell-phone activities and addiction among male and female college students. J. Behav. Addict. 3, 254–265 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.3.2014.015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Lin, L., Sidani, J.E., Shensa, A., Radovic, A., et al.: Association between social media use and depression among US young adults. Depress. Anxiety 33, 323–331 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Hartanto, A., Yang, H.: Is the smartphone a smart choice? The effect of smartphone separation on executive functions. Comput. Hum. Behav. 64, 329–336 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.07.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Csikszentmihalyi, M.: Introduction in Optimal Experience Psychological Studies of Flow Consciousness. Cambridge University Press, New York (1988)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  34. Moneta, G.B., Csikszentmihalyi, M.: The effect of perceived challenges and skills on the quality of subjective experience. J. Pers. 64, 275–310 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1996.tb00512.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Peifer, C.: Psychophysiological correlates of flow-experience. Adv. Flow Res., 139–164 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Pace, S.: A grounded theory of the flow experiences of Web users. Int. J. Hum Comput Stud. 60, 327–363 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2003.08.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Csikszentmihalyi, M.: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Harper & Row, New York (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Csikszentmihalyi, M.: Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life. Basic Books, New York (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Ryan, R.M., Deci, E.L.: Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. Am. Psychol. 55, 68 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Rodriguez-Sanchez, A.M., Schaufeli, W.B., Salanova, M., Cifre, E.: Flow experience among information and communication technology users. Psychol. Rep. 102, 29–39 (2008). https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.102.1.29-39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Zillmann, D.: Mood management in the context of selective exposure theory. Ann. Int. Commun. Assoc. 23, 103–123 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1080/23808985.2000.11678971

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Brandon, J.: Are we losing the emotion from communication. In: Depth Does Relying on Technology Harm Our Senses and Emotions (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Bandura, A.: Social cognitive theory of mass communication. Media Psychol. 3, 265–299 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Turkle, S.: Alone Together. Basic Books, New York (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Bianchi, A., Phillips, J.G.: Psychological predictors of problem mobile phone use. CyberPsychology Behav. 8, 39–51 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2005.8.39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Finneran, C.M., Zhang, P.: Flow in computer-mediated environments: promises and challenges. Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst. 15, 82–101 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Ghani, J.A., Supnick, R., Rooney, P.: The experience of flow in computer-mediated and in face-to-face groups. ICIS 91, 229–237 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Faiola, A., Newlon, C., Pfaff, M., Smyslova, O.: Correlating the effects of flow and telepresence in virtual worlds: Enhancing our understanding of user behavior in game-based learning. Comput. Hum. Behav. 29, 1113–1121 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.10.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Faiola, A., Srinivas, P., Duffecy, J.: The effects of excessive smartphone use on mood, consciousness, and psychosocial wellness: the sometimes negative side of flow experience, slated. J. Happiness Stud. (In Review)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to acknowledge the student work of Alexandra Dirico, University of Illinois at Chicago, for her contribution in the development of this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Anthony Faiola & Haleh Vatani

  2. Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Preethi Srinivas

Authors
  1. Anthony Faiola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Haleh Vatani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Preethi Srinivas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anthony Faiola .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Research University Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Daniel A. Alexandrov

  2. Saint Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Alexander V. Boukhanovsky

  3. Saint Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Andrei V. Chugunov

  4. National Research University Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Yury Kabanov

  5. National Research University Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Olessia Koltsova

A Appendix

A Appendix

List of research questions provided participants according to topics, with responses according to a seven-point Likert scale.

Emotion and Mood

  1. 1.

    I am able to get rid of stress while using my smartphone.

  2. 2.

    I feel impatient and fretful when I am not holding my smartphone.

  3. 3.

    I sometimes become irritated while using my smartphone.

  4. 4.

    Not having my phone in my possession (at home/outside home) makes me feel nervous/anxious.

  5. 5.

    I feel pleasant or excited while using my smartphone.

  6. 6.

    I feel calm while using my smartphone.

  7. 7.

    Using my smartphone allows me to be more in touch with my feelings.

  8. 8.

    I become depressed or sad if I am not able to use my smartphone.

Dependency

  1. 9.

    Having my smartphone with me at all times gives me the feeling of safety and security.

  2. 10.

    I feel more comfortable using my smartphone for communication as opposed to other forms of communication.

  3. 11.

    It is very difficult to consider my daily life without having my smartphone.

  4. 12.

    I use my smartphone each day longer than I had intended.

  5. 13.

    I often consider that I should shorten my smartphone use.

  6. 14.

    I feel I waste time when I am on my smartphone more than necessary.

  7. 15.

    I feel I am more in control when using my smartphone.

Addiction

  1. 16.

    I believe I am addicted or have an abnormal dependency on my smartphone.

  2. 17.

    I feel the urge to use my smartphone again immediately after I stopped using it.

  3. 18.

    I cannot bear the thought of not having my smartphone with me at all times.

  4. 19.

    Regardless of the circumstances around me, I would never give up the use of my smartphone.

  5. 20.

    Not being able to use my smartphone would be as painful as losing a friend.

  6. 21.

    I miss planned or anticipated work or responsibilities due to smartphone use.

  7. 22.

    I have my smartphone (and using it) on my mind even when I’m not using it.

Purpose of Life

  1. 23.

    I feel that the use of my smartphone gives greater value to my life.

  2. 24.

    I believe there is nothing more fun to do than use my smartphone.

  3. 25.

    Without my smartphone, I believe I could not be successful in the world.

Social Communications

  1. 26.

    I constantly check my smartphone so I will not miss communication between other people via email, text, Twitter or Facebook, etc.

  2. 27.

    I check social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook right after waking up in the morning or right before going to bed at night.

  3. 28.

    I prefer searching for information that I need by using my smartphone rather than asking people in real time.

Self-consciousness

  1. 29.

    It is hard for me to talk on my smartphone when I think others are watching me.

  2. 30.

    I feel nervous when I am talking on my smartphone in public.

  3. 31.

    I pay attention to my inner feelings when I am using my smartphone.

  4. 32.

    Using my smartphone makes me less aware of my close surroundings.

  5. 33.

    I am often unaware if I am speaking too loudly on my smartphone when I am in public.

  6. 34.

    I often lose track of time when I am using my smartphone.

  7. 35.

    When I am on my smartphone, my attention is only focused on it.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Faiola, A., Vatani, H., Srinivas, P. (2018). The Impact of Smartphone Use on the Psychosocial Wellness of College Students. In: Alexandrov, D., Boukhanovsky, A., Chugunov, A., Kabanov, Y., Koltsova, O. (eds) Digital Transformation and Global Society. DTGS 2018. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 859. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02846-6_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02846-6_21

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-02845-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-02846-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation