Cell Phone Use Habits Among the Spanish Population: Contribution of Applications to Problematic Use

Abstract

Mobile phone abuse may be associated with health problems as well as with interferences in daily life. However, beyond the mobile as a device, the contributions of specific utilities and applications to the problematic mobile phone use remains to be analyzed. To address this important question we conducted 1,126 online interviews in Spain with participants aged 16 to 65 who are representative of the general population. The aim of the study was to analyze the patterns and differences of cell phone use based on habitual use, abuse, and problematic use, considering the most frequently used utilities and applications. Additional variables used were personal perception of cell phones, intensity of use, and participant's lifestyle with regard to entertainment and the maintenance of healthy habits. Further, we aimed to analyze difference between problematic and non-problematic mobile phone users in the utilization of applications, controlling for additional variables such as age, gender, educational level, consumption of tobacco and alcohol and illegal drugs. Results show that problematic use is consistent with the self-perception of abuse and is related to internet browsing, social media, music, and mobile games; particular applications of interest include Facebook, music applications, and Twitter. Furthermore, among problematic users, a pattern of interference with other activities or inappropriate use in certain contexts is observed, with a differential pattern of entertainment and abandonment of healthy habits. Finally, two binary logistic regression analyses demonstrated that beyond the cell phones themselves, specific utilities and applications such as browsing, chatting, or downloading and listening to music contribute to the differences between problematic and non-problematic users. Specifically, the use of Facebook, Twitter, and music applications have the greatest power to discriminate between the two types of users.

Profiles of Mobile Phone Problem Use in Bullying and Cyberbullying Among Adolescents

“…Problematic mobile phone use with the utilization of social networks, impacts negatively the physical, mental, and social well-being of the person (Lim and Yang, 2015;Amendola et al, 2019). There is evidence reported of addiction to mobile devices being greater than addiction to social media services (Barnes et al, 2019), the user profile for mobile phone addiction is different to the profile for someone addicted to the internet (De Sola-Gutiérrez et al, 2016).…”

“…( García and Monferrer, 2009 ). Mobile phone usage has been associated with unhealthy interferences in an individual’s daily life ( Echeburúa and de Corral, 2010 ; Cía, 2013 ; Fernández-Sánchez, 2013 ; De-Sola et al, 2019 ). Problematic mobile phone use with the utilization of social networks, impacts negatively the physical, mental, and social well-being of the person ( Lim and Yang, 2015 ; Amendola et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Young teenagers show an inability to disconnect or turn off mobile phones that, consequently, reduces sleep, increases worry and anxiety, and is associated with a greater fear of missing out (or FOMO) on sharing experiences with others – which in turn increases the desire to use mobile phones more often (to feel connected) associated with psychological reasons leading to increases and problematic mobile use ( Gil et al, 2015 ; Santana-Vega et al, 2019 ). Dependence on the social environment coupled with the need for belonging is associated with mobile phones being an essential vehicle of communication but may also become problematic and addictive ( De-Sola et al, 2019 ). Consequently, most teenagers prefer to communicate via mobile phones rather in person because it allows them to socialize, have fun, promote their social status and identity, etc.…”

Use of mobile phones by youth regarding the potential health consequences – a survey study

“…Using telephones during eating, meetings with others, lessons, cycling, skateboarding, or driving a car, and in the toilet may indicate excessive attachment to the telephone. The problem is not the use of the phone as a device itself, but the incorrect use of the applications and tools of that device [7]. Very frequent, regular screen refreshing, the need to check the news on the phone may be related to FOMO and uncontrolled use of the Internet or smartphones considered a risk factor for disturbances in everyday functioning, distraction, development of depression and insomnia [9].…”

“…The first one is described as an anxious feeling of missing rewarding experiences that other people are having, connected to the social media usage. [4,5,6,7]. Moreover, it is suspected that the excessive emission of blue light from mobile phones disturbs the balance of cortisol and melatonin secretion, circadian rhythm, and may negatively impact on sleep quality or immunity [8].…”