Smart Phone Use May Cause More Stress

A recent study by British scientists shows that constantly checking up on your smartphone may not actually be a smart move.

This alarming observation was based on a recent study that found a link between frequent use of modern internet-enabled cellphones and rising stress levels.

Stress from using smartphones arises when the user feels a great need to view and respond immediately to each message, update, alert, or tweet.

Amazingly, the study found no link between stress and smartphone use for professional purposes. The fault lies with the personal use of these devices like staying in touch with friends and keeping up with social network updates.

According to study author Richard Balding of the University of Worcester psychology department in England, people use smartphones more frequently in order to help meet the demands of their daily lives. He however observed that more and more people are becoming dependent on them, and may actually cause more stress to users.

Balding and his colleagues used psychometric stress tests to look at how the use of Androids, Blackberries, iPhones, and similar devices affected more than a hundred participants which included students, and private and public-sector workers.

Subjects were also surveyed about their phone use.

The study showed that users generally acquire smartphones in order to manage their work obligations much better. Eventually, however, users end up using such devices for more personal interactions, staying away from work-related usage and moving towards controlling one’s online social network.

This usage pattern makes way for stress, as observed by researchers, and checking the phone more frequently for personal reasons produces more stress.

In extreme cases, users who feel tremendous pressure to stay connected can become so compelling that they may actually perceive phantom alerts, like ring tones or phone vibrations that aren’t actually there.

Keeping connected isn’t actually a bad idea, Balding concedes. He however warned that everybody should take some time off on their own, or users will run the risk of building up stress and tension which can have a negative effect on relationships. For those affected by high stress, consulting with health insurance companies may help users explore available mental health support options, as many policies now cover stress-related conditions.

University of California psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky said that although these observations may seem reasonable, more work should be done to establish a real cause-and-effect model.

According to her, it may be possible that people who already experience higher stress levels and may be neurotic are the ones more likely to compulsively check their smartphones to begin with, so further studies may be needed to see what’s causing what and how health insurance coverage might play a role in supporting effective stress management strategies.