Consulting Tools supplied researchers at the University of Worcester with the stress measurement inventory, StressScan, to aid the study of the relationship between Smart phone use and stress. Results found that the more people use their smart phones, the higher the level of stress is reported.
The research uncovers a vicious circle. When stressed, people use their smart phones more in an attempt to alleviate their stress. But that smart phone use in turn increases the individual’s stress levels rather than alleviating it.
The more people check their phone, the more stressed they seem to become. This has been linked to the documented phantom vibrations and ring tones. When users felt or heard that they had received a message or email only to find that, when they checked, there was no real message there.
Smart phones and modern technology provide us with information and entertainment around the clock, but this may prove to damage a healthy work/life balance.
101 people took part in this study, completing StressScan and a demographic questionnaire.
Julie Mrowicki, Research Manager of Consulting Tools, commented on the findings: “What really interested me is the link between the increase of stress levels and the phenomenon of phantom vibrations. This suggests that actually it’s when we’re not receiving messages we get the most stressed! I hope this can pave the way for further studies to shed more light into an important area.”
*******
For more information please contact:
Lauren Ward: lward@consultingtools.com 01954 710764