Socioemotional characteristics of cell phone addiction
The case of nomophobia
Keywords:
Nomophobia, cell phone addiction, emotions, security, attachment anxietyAbstract
Nomophobia has attracted attention in relation to cell phone addiction. Addictions are characterized by a complex mixture of emotional experiences; however, research has not focused on whether emotions experienced while using cellphones follow this same pattern. The current study examines positive and negative emotions experienced when using cell phones and attachment anxiety as predictors of nomophobia. Participants (n=102) completed the NMP-Q assessing nomophobia, an emotion scale assessing positive and negative emotions experienced when using a cellphone (CP) and in general (GEN), and the ECR-R assessing attachment styles. Negative and positive emotions including security while using, negative emotions in general, and attachment-related anxiety predicted nomophobia. Our findings support the idea that nomophobia is maintained by complex emotional states experienced when using cell phone technology. Future research could employ methodologies that focus on minute-by-minute emotional reporting while using cell phones to better understand the motivational states underlying cell phone addiction.
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