Are you addicted to your smartphone? It could be because of anxiety, depression

Being less emotionally stable, according to a study, is associated with problematic smartphone behaviour. As levels of anxiety increase, the time you spend with the phone also increases, added the study.

If anybody you know is addicted to a smartphone, you should read this. People who are less emotionally stable and suffer from anxiety and depression are more likely to be addicted to their phones, suggests a new study. Emotional stability is characterised by being emotionally resilient. The study found that being less emotionally stable was associated with problematic smartphone behaviour.

People who struggle with their mental health are more likely to intensively use their smartphone as a form of therapy and that the less conscientious individuals are, the more likely they are to be addicted to their phones. As levels of anxiety increase, problematic smartphone use also increases, the findings showed.

People who are “closed off” or less open with their emotions are more likely to have problems with smartphone use, suggests the study result.

“Problematic smartphone use is more complex than previously thought and our research has highlighted the interplay of various psychological factors in the study of smartphone use,” Zaheer Hussain, Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Derby in Britain, said in a statement. “This is because people may be experiencing problems in their lives such as stress, anxiety, depression, family problems, so in that state they are emotionally unstable, meaning they may seek respite in very excessive smartphone use. This is worrying,” Hussain said.

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