Constantly connected - The effects of smart-devices on mental health
Abstract
A number of studies have demonstrated the mental health implications of excessive Internet-browsing, gaming, texting, emailing, social networking, and phone calling. However, no study to date has investigated the impact of being able to conduct all of these activities on one device. A smart-device (i.e., smart-phone or tablet) allows these activities to be conducted anytime and anywhere, with unknown mental health repercussions. This study investigated the association between smart-device use, smart-device involvement and mental health. Two-hundred and seventy-four participants completed an online survey comprising demographic questions, questions concerning smart-device use, the Mobile Phone Involvement Questionnaire, the Internet Addiction Test and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales. Higher smart-device involvement was significantly associated with higher levels of depression and stress but not anxiety. However, smart-device use was not significantly associated with depression, anxiety or stress. These findings suggest that it is the nature of the relationship a person has with their smart-device that is predictive of depression and stress, rather than the extent of use.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2014
Faculty
Faculty of Business and Law
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Law and Justice
RAS ID
18501
Copyright
subscription content
Comments
Harwood J., Dooley J.J., Scott A.J., Joiner R. (2014). Constantly connected - The effects of smart-devices on mental health. Computers in Human Behavior, 34, 267-272. Available here