Are smartphones really that bad? Improving the psychological measurement of technology-related behaviors

Abstract

Understanding how people use technology remains important, particularly when measuring the impact this might have on individuals and society. To date, research within psychological science often frames new technology as problematic with overwhelmingly negative consequences. However, this paper argues that the latest generation of psychometric tools, which aim to assess smartphone usage, are unable to capture technology related experiences or behaviors. As a result, many conclusions concerning the psychological impact of technology use remain unsound. Current assessments have also failed to keep pace with new methodological developments and these data-intensive approaches challenge the notion that smartphones and related technologies are inherently problematic. The field should now consider how it might re-position itself conceptually and methodologically given that many 'addictive' technologies have long since become intertwined with daily life.

Digital detox: The effect of smartphone abstinence on mood, anxiety, and craving

“…This may indicate that smartphone 'addicts' were unable to fully participate in the study and so discontinued, thus affecting our findings. However, we would caution this interpretation somewhat as these scales do not align favourably with objective behaviour (Ellis, 2019). Future research could focus on heavy users, based on objective behaviour, who may be more likely to demonstrate expected patterns of withdrawal.…”

Moving beyond addiction: An attachment theory framework for understanding young adults' relationships with their smartphones

“…This is supported by several studies, which have linked attachment insecurity with smartphone addiction (Ge, ; Ghasempour & Mahmoodi‐Aghdam, ; Monacis, de Palo, Griffiths, & Sinatra, ). However, given concerns around the atheoretical application of the medical‐addiction model to such a novel, quasi‐normalized, and potentially functional dependence on smartphones (e.g., Billieux, Maurage, et al, ; Billieux, Schimmenti, et al, ; Ellis, ; Panova & Carbonell, ; Park, ; Pivetta et al, ), this attachment framework may provide insight into the psychological processes underlying some of the alarming behaviors that have emerged alongside increasing smartphone use (e.g., texting while driving; Bianchi & Phillips, ; Weller et al, ). Hence, this understanding could help inform the development of interventions, educational programming, and even marketing campaigns aimed at promoting healthy and responsible use of smartphones that maximize their benefits and minimize their potentially detrimental impacts.…”

“…Moreover, with about two thirds of people reporting distress upon being separated from their phone (King et al, ), a proportion that is even higher for young adults (Sharma, Sharma, Sharma, & Wavare, ), some degree of dependence on smartphones appears to be a normative phenomenon rather than an anomaly or a disorder. Indeed, several researchers have voiced concern around the application of the medical‐addiction model to such a novel, quasi‐normalized, and potentially functional dependence on smartphones (e.g., Billieux, Maurage, Lopez‐Fernandez, Kuss, & Griffiths, ; Billieux, Schimmenti, Khazaal, Maurage, & Heeren, ; Ellis, ; Panova & Carbonell, ; Park, ; Pivetta, Harkin, Billieux, Kanjo, & Kuss, ). Specifically, some have explained that conceptualizing excessive behaviors (e.g., problematic smartphone use) within the addiction model may be a simplification of an individual's psychological functioning, offering only limited clinical relevance (Billieux, Schimmenti, et al, ).…”

“…Unsurprisingly, this was found to be the case, and many have pushed to include smartphone addiction in future editions of the DSM. However, given its atheoretical origins, others have questioned whether problematic smartphone use is best understood as an addictive behavior (e.g., Billieux, Maurage, et al, ; Billieux, Schimmenti, et al, ; Ellis, ; Panova & Carbonell, ; Park, ; Pivetta et al, ). For example, a study by Billieux, Phillippot et al (2015) concluded that, when applied to everyday behaviors, such as overuse of smartphones, the addiction model might have limited clinical relevance as it does not identify etiopathological processes and recommends interventions targeting symptoms rather than their causes.…”

Effects of restricting social media usage

“…Survey respondents are typically asked to report the average time they spend on the internet, social media and digital devices. Several papers show that self-reported measures of technology use (including social media usage) are poorly correlated with actual usage and contain systematic patterns of misreporting (Junco 2013, Scharkow 2016, Ellis 2019.…”