Notre Dame researchers dig deeper into smartphone addiction

examine the link between smartphone addiction risk and satisfaction with life.

In total, 300 Notre Dame students participated in an online survey questionnaire, which collected demographic data and responses to an assortment of scales to measure their addiction to smartphones, satisfaction with life, and level of stress.

Out of 249 respondents, 44.6 percent were at high risk for smartphone addiction and 49.1 percent were at a low risk. 53.4 percent identified as having high levels of perceived stress, which was slightly greater than 46.6 percent of students that reported low levels of perceived stress.

Results showed that risk of smartphone addiction can be tied into satisfaction with life through academic performance and perceived stress. Additionally, smartphone addiction was negatively linked to academic performance.

Continual checking or use of smartphones apps has been linked to stress, anxiety, sleep disturbance, psychological disorders, decreased academic performance, withdrawal and deterioration in well-being, and decreased physical activity, according to the study.

“As smartphone use continues to be on the rise despite all the alarming and negative implications, mainly behavioral addiction, intervention programs must be developed and implemented without further ado with the most vulnerable population segments, children and adolescents,” the study concluded.