Decrease in Happiness by Cell Phone Users
Science proves what we already know. However, knowing the facts and making changes to reflect our knowledge is sometimes easier said than done!
Frequent cell phone use is linked to anxiety, lower grades and reduced happiness in college students according to a research study done at Kent State University.
Results of the analysis showed that cell phone use by college students was negatively related to GPA and positively related to anxiety. Following this, GPA was positively related to happiness while anxiety was negatively related to happiness. Thus, for the population studied, high frequency cell phone users tended to have lower GPA, higher anxiety, and lower satisfaction with life (happiness) relative to their peers who used the cell phone less often.
Today, you can’t go anywhere without your smartphone. You see people of all ages attached to their phone as if it is a glued on appendage. Smartphones have become a major part of college students’ lives, keeping them socially connected with friends, family and the Internet. Everyone keeps their cell phones close at hand whether they are in class, at the library, working out at the gym, eating lunch or hanging out in their dorm room. As cell phone use continues to steadily increase, researchers wanted to determine whether use of the device is related to measurable outcomes such as academic performance, anxiety and happiness.
Kent State University researchers Andrew Lepp, Ph.D., Jacob Barkley, Ph.D., and Aryn Karpinski, Ph.D., all faculty members in the university’s College of Education, Health and Human Services, surveyed more than 500 university students. Daily cell phone use was recorded along with a clinical measure of anxiety and each student’s level of satisfaction with their own life, or in other words happiness. Finally, all participants allowed the researchers to access their official university records in order to retrieve their actual, cumulative college grade point average (GPA). All students surveyed were undergraduate students and were equally distributed by class (freshman, sophomore, junior and senior). In addition, 82 different, self-reported majors were represented.
So whether or not you are a college student, have college aged children or yourself are permanently glued to your phone, it may be time to detach! Doing so could be a benefit to overall performance on the job or in school, decreased anxiety and increased happiness.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131206124425.htm
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Sandy Duncan is completing her Doctorate in Integrative Medicine, a health and wellness coach, Certified Neurofeedback specialist and author of AllNaturalHealthReviews.org. Read honest reviews on current health and wellness products as well as register for FREE giveaways.
