Smartphone addiction increases loneliness and isolation. And in many ways is like substance abuse.
That’s the conclusion of researchers behind a study conducted at San Francisco State University. They liken smartphone addiction to opioid dependency, arguing that overuse of a mobile device is no different from substance abuse.
It’s well-known that digital addiction can result in many negative mental effects on people over time. Recent research even found it creates a brain imbalance in teens. Now a new study finds that over-attachment to your phone can cause serious social problems — boosting feelings of loneliness and isolation — while worsening anxiety and depression symptoms.
Erik Peper, co-lead author of the study and professor of health education at the school, said in a news release:
“The behavioral addiction of smartphone use begins forming neurological connections in the brain in ways similar to how opioid addiction is experienced by people taking Oxycontin for pain relief — gradually,”
The researchers found that the students who used their phones the most reported feeling more lonely and isolated than peers less dependent on their devices. The most frequent users also reported higher levels of depression and anxiety.
If you feel like your smartphone is taking over your life, Peper suggests turning off push notifications, limiting email and social media use to certain times of the day, and setting aside time to take on tasks without any use of your digital devices.