Whether behavioural addictions should be conceptualised using a similar framework to substance-related addictions remains a topic of considerable debate. Previous literature has developed criteria, which allows any new behavioural addiction to be considered analogous to substance-related addictions. These imply that abstinence from a related object (e.g. smartphones for heavy smartphone users) would lead to mood fluctuations alongside increased levels of anxiety and craving. In a sample of smartphone users, we measured three variables (mood, anxiety, and craving) on four occasions, which included a 24-hour period of smartphone abstinence. Only craving was affected following a short period of abstinence. The results suggest that heavy smartphone usage does not fulfil the criteria required to be considered an addiction. This may have implications for other behavioural addictions.

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Following publication, the authors became aware of an error that occurred during data entry. Specifically, two columns of data were mislabelled whereby participants craving scores at time 1 were incorrectly labelled as Smartphone Addiction Inventory Scores (SPAI) (and vice versa). Corrected results and figures are provided below. A revised post-print that incorporates all these edits is also available