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Humans' attachment to their mobile phones and its relationship with interpersonal attachment style

August 2016
Computers in Human Behavior 61(3):537-547

DOI:10.1016/j.chb.2016.03.062

Authors:

Veronika Konok

Eötvös Loránd University

Adam Miklosi

Eötvös Loránd University

Humans have a biological predisposition to form attachment to social partners, and they seem to form attachment even toward non-human and inanimate targets. Attachment styles influence not only interpersonal relationships, but interspecies and object attachment as well. We hypothesized that young people form attachment toward their mobile phone, and that people with higher attachment anxiety use the mobile phone more likely as a compensatory attachment target. We constructed a scale to observe people's attachment to their mobile and we assessed their interpersonal attachment style. In this exploratory study we found that young people readily develop attachment toward their phone: they seek the proximity of it and experience distress on separation. People's higher attachment anxiety predicted higher tendency to show attachment-like features regarding their mobile. Specifically, while the proximity of the phone proved to be equally important for people with different attachment styles, the constant contact with others through the phone was more important for anxiously attached people. We conclude that attachment to recently emerged artificial objects, like the mobile may be the result of cultural co-option of the attachment system. People with anxious attachment style may face challenges as the constant contact and validation the computer-mediated communication offers may deepen their dependence on others.

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The full citation:

Konok V., Gigler D., Bereczky B.M., Miklósi Á. (2016) Humans’ attachment to their

mobile phones and its relationship with interpersonal attachment style. Computers in

Human Behavior, 61, 537–547.





 !" #$"!

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

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

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

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)(%,=2

'

,.

  .    ,    (      2  '  

.>2

?#   .    

;

2?,

2

@;.,

%;.;21

;(.

2A.  ;.  ,B .

..

.;2

?.>

.(.21;

  .              ,    (

..2

%          ;        

(..

1 Introduction

C979D              

,;.2@

 . .  ,  ;.

E....

.....;CD2

@,

...22CF G!

<<HD.C!#*.G<<7D2@

C#.(D

(   , ,,3 .CF 2

<<H:  A,  G  #  988D2  ',          ,

    ,    ( .

CFGA,<<<D2'

   ,     ,  ; 

  .(     .  , CF G

A,<<<D2&;,,(

 22 C' G@ <: I.. G 99JD

 C G# <<: AG .. <<:? 947D 

>  C+  G    <<9:  !  98HD      C  G  A,  99:

99JD2@..;..,

.,..

C 979:#GA,99JD2

' C979D,,.

....

      2  ,      .        ,  

,,.,,

,  2  &      

C;#.,D

C,;,.>

D2+,

      .            C    

D.,  # 3   

2

?,

.,21

.C#GA,

99J:&G 994D2&.(

C 979:#GA,99JD22>2

!..C22

999:  A    G  !  999D2  F    .  C  999D    

.C 98HD,>2

,>

..CG?(!<:?

94D2,,(.

.>C!98H:?99<D2

&.>..

C:<6D..CA99D

C?G?<<JD.,

,C+G<<9:?<<D2

K .  , > .     2 &

.,;C)<J:

<JD2&. 

.    . ..2 @ 0A'

626,8

JH2CA.!+<JD2!



,.C22?<JD2,

CA!(H:

'1'<6D2'.

.%.

;,

C22 G1<<H:+G<:&

!G!<<7D2

.

,2F;,<6

49L...

B.,

C*,<6D2'.

.C..2D

MNC , !& G1 <6:  2<6: A),

<D    ,     CA A A G

?,<HD2 &           

;,,

.2

C<<7D  ,  C22# >

,2DC

  O        D2 &  

.C..

2D2 &      .

C<<7D2@A,,C<<HD

>,  

    .  .    2  -  C<<9D            

  >              (    

,   .   2 +, -

+  G  +,#  C<JD    +  *  G  '  C<HD    

.;:,

.2

',>

,C 979:#GA,

99JD2@>

   C  D    C22 

%?  299<: + G<<9D ,

C22%<6DC.,22+

G <<9D2& , . . 

>%

                    

  .   ,

C.*-GA,:<D2&

  .            ,      .    

 .  2 '      (

. .       

.2  1      .    .%            

(.

.>2

'.,

.C22>D;

,

    .      >2  1    ;      

,.>,

,,2@;.

,,.;>

CG?(!<:.2<DC1KG 

<6D        C  ,    ,  .    ,(,,  

>:PGA<<9D;,

(C!G<JD2-

                        

  2,  ;  C<D         ; 

;,2@.C<JD.

,;CG

*..  <:  ?  G  ,  <D          ;

 ; ; 2 , !G #

C<6D.;.B.

2

@;,,C

<JD,CQG1R<<:!G#<6D

.B32  @      ,      .  

,C!G#<6D..

2

K.,

.2 &  .          

   ,.. .  C22(

..>.D2A

      .                .  

...2?.

    ;          .  .      

C(..>D



. 2K

; ...   ,   

%.C,D2

1.1 Hypotheses

?      , .. %22 

(,.

>.2

'    ;            ;  C      

,DCD;(

C,.DCD

C6DC

B.D.B2

?,

C,..

APA,2D.

.C22,2D

..

      ;(        ,      

.B.2

?..%.

   . C A"#(!S#G K

<<9D2',C22

A"#(!S#GK<<9D;;(

C,.

D2

2 Method

2.1 Participants

J  CJ8   9J D     2 1

9H2?

.

T,NCFGA<JD2'

,   C22 'G  <D2

.

; 2 1   @  F2 &  

2&..

B,U,2@.

.B2&)+.

)/,/*"0,,,.2

2.2 Materials

 % ?      

@(C.M.N.

TN,TND2

 ?,.,

   .  ; C ,%

A!AD  , C!!AD   @ 2 C'; 'D2

1H( * .B.

.,.C,DHC,.D2

 !  ! C '; D% ?  

(  .  .      2  ?        ..

.  ; C' 2

94:  979D    . . .

322...C22 ,2

<6:&2<<7D21C<D

            .    C      D    H  C,

D2

!  !    !!:  +  G  -  99<:    ';  +:    

."#$%&&'"#(22D%

 8 2''A    , .   

    %  C              .  

DC;.3

;,DC;

,D2

F+C997D,% C;D

 CD2 ?    ,    2 ! 

,,.  2

&,..C22

 +G A,998: ..G  99JD2 @   

>H(*.CDHC,D2

2.3 Procedure

&A<K<21.

B.;<(H2&

.B@2&B

.>,.B2



2.4 Statistical analysis

'.CA1AA82<2<2D2@.

    B   .     

2

1;.

C!0ADC!'AD2@<2J

.C&GF<<D2+..

*!2

&          C!0AD      C!'AD    .    

.C*!D

C!'AD3!'A3!0A

,C''AD,.

.;.2@,..(

2?(,%

.;,(,

.CV<2<HD..2&...,;,

((( B 2& 

.,.*!&@

2

'   .. , !0A  !(

? ..2

3 Results

3.1 Descriptive analysis and reliability of the scales

&,.!0A&2K!!A;

.,C.HD2&

,.!'A&2&.

%+.<24.!0A<244.!'A2

NMedia

nMinimum Maximum Lower

quartile

Upper

quartile

Calls J J  H J H

SMS J J  H 6 H

MMS J     

Browsing J   H  J

Social Network J   H  J

Chat J<   H  

Games J   H  

Table 1 Descriptives (sample size, median, minimum-maximum and quartiles) of the

Mobile Usage Scale items (MUS)

N Median Minimum Maximum Lower

quartile

Upper

quartile

Checking J J  H 6 H

Separation J J  H 6 H

Proximity at night J H  H J H

Go_home J 6  H  J

Mobile_see J   H  J

Nervous 68   H  6

Nerv_other J 6  H  J

Worry J 6  H  J

Uneasy J   H  

Debate J   H  

Table 2 Descriptives (sample size, median, minimum-maximum and quartiles) of the

Mobile Attachment Scale items (MAS). For the full description of the scale items see

Appendix B

3.2 Principal component analysis of Mobile Usage Scale and Mobile Attachment Scale

items

&.7!0A

C),WD  . 7426L .   ,2 @

.    ,     

.CJ628LD2? 

) C.;,

D2@.A!A

C62HLD*)C&6D2

Components

Smart Mobile

Phone Use

Traditional Mobile

Phone Use

Browsing ,906 <6

Chat ,862 (<86

Social Network ,846 <96

Games ,582 <J8

Calls (<<7 ,842

SMS <H7 ,832

Table 3 Item loadings on the principal components of the Mobile Usage Scale (MUS)

&.!'AC),

WD.724L.,2@.

>.

.C6627LD2&))

+2@.

                            

CH28LD2&...

   2 ?     , -./ &

C2JLD#.

,,..

 )- -  . C& JD2 K  CT!XND

B

.2

Components

Phone Proximity

Seeking

Need for

Contact

Preference for

Mobile

Communication

Proximity at night .748 (2<8 2<H8

Separation .667 2689 (2H6

Go_home .649 269 (2<66

Checking .608 2<96 297

Worry (28 .793 28

Nerv_other 2J9 .774 2<<

Nervous 2HH .603 2<6

Mobile_see 2J<< 2JH 2HJ

Uneasy 24 2<H9 .875

Debate (2<< 26 .853

Table 4 Item loadings on the principal components of the Mobile Attachment Scale

(MAS). For the full description of the scale items see Appendix B

3.3 Effects of Adult Attachment Scale, gender and type of phone on mobile usage and

mobile attachment

?;*!!0AC)*

)D!'A!'AC))+

,-.)--.,2

&  *!         )  0 .    !0A

,,...C&HD 22

      . .  .B 

2';...

,C&HD%;.

..B;2&

.....,

,2

&*! *)0 .!0A

 ,,     ..  *   )

0C&HD%...B2

&.....

.,2

&*!!'A,,

.;...C&HD%

                ;      

  C!'AD                      

;2&.....

,!'A2

? )  )  +  )-  -    .   

,....2,

,,-.;.,

..C&HD%;,,-.

2&,...,-.

.2

Dependent variable

Independent

variables in

the final model

Parameter

estimate

Standard

Error

Degrees

freedom

F p

MUS_Smart

Mobile Phone

Function

Type of phone

(TrSm) 2H4 <27  9J298 V<2<<

Attachment

anxiety <28 <2<9  6298 <2<J8

MUS_Traditional

Mobile Phone

Function

Gender

(FM) (2J4 <268  J29 V<2<<

MAS total score

Gender

(FM) (<27 <2  J29 <2<9

Type of phone

(TrSm) <26 <2  42 <2<<9

Attachment

anxiety <24 <2<4  72H <2<

MAS_Need for

contact

Attachment

anxiety <268 <28  J2H <2<6H

Table 5 Results of the general linear models (GLMs) with Smart Mobile Phone Function

(MUS component) score, Traditional Mobile Phone Function (MUS component) score,

mobile attachment (MAS) total score and Need for Contact (MAS component) score as

dependent variables, subscales (attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) of the

Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) as covariates, gender and type of the phone as fixed

factors. Only the independent variables of the final models are presented, with direction

of change of factor levels indicated in brackets (where applicable); Tr: traditional

phone, Sm: smartphone, F: females, M: males.

3.4 Gender differences in mobile use

!(? ....

,!0A2-.C0Y772H:

Y<2<<7DA!AC0YJ86:Y<2<<D.C0Y7<<:

Y<2<<D          .  .  .    C>

.,.4%<2<<4D2

4 Discussion

4.1 Attachment to the mobile phone and its different aspects

&. .

2&,C22JHH(*D.

)) + . ! C    & 6D   

   ;   .  

 . 2 &       . 2 & 

.!'A.CD

.(..C,-D

...2

?E22.,

( .  .(  C@DE 

 C    .>  .

:  22A  2<<4D   B . ( .

.COG+

<<4:1G?<HD2&

..(

C22;(D2

?,,

2K>C22D,

.2&T,N..T.

.,N3C.2<

96D2,,.2

0>;

2&?UC94D

.>.

,.,>C22D2

.C,;D

.C 979DC22(%I(

!!GA,<D,

>2..,

,..

;,C22TND,

C...

OFD2

4.2 Interpersonal attachment style and mobile attachment

&      ; 

(.;

!'A2?...

C...1+'D.;

,- .;

        .          (.  .  C

      D2  &          .      .  . 

>2,;

;    ;        

  ;                  .  

C>D2&,.

;>CG

?(!  <:  .    2  <D2  ,    ,        

B...%C.D

))+.2@

;.B..

.;2

&..,.%

22.B.

,..BC G

*<<4: <<8D2@.;

B%

.   ,  .CG

<D2&;..

              ZT(N  C22  

;  .  ;(,    :  *  <<JD    T.  .

NC <<:G <D2&

.C-<<9D2&

    .  

,;

      ,  2  &  .  ;      

  ..   , . .   .

,..,2

&B;

,..>

 2 ' & C<<7D  C @D

,T,,.N

.2',

..  .(.CFA A !G  99: F

AAG*99H:FG&994D,

.     C @D   

;.22O,2

?  ,  .      .          .B  

;..%;

.22,.

A!A(2?..

;2,,

;.A!A(

2@%.

;C<JDT;N

C;;DCG*..<:?G,

<D!G#C<6D..B

;2@..

 ..,   .      2

', .B .    ,..

.22;(.

C<JD2&.B..

..2

4.3 Smartphones and mobile attachment/mobile usage

?.,(

.C;!'AD2,#

.... ..

2&..

,,

2'..

..2P

.3

2,.

 C .B2D .  C) <JD  

    .     

2

4.4 Gender differences in mobile usage and mobile attachment

';.B..%

A!AA"#(!S#GKC<<9D.

2A.,.

.C G1<<H:?G*<<7D

..C?G*<<7D.

C G1<<HD.C.

A"#(!S#GK<<9D21

,,C22 ;

<<8:A"#(!S#GK<<9:% G1<<HD

..;CF99J:AG*<<<D21

..,

;C ;<<8:<<7D2A

.,.2

4.5 Limitations of the study

&.;..;

2@  !'A 

, . 2 F;   

.,..2'

   .  22 ..2 &   

,.

.C,D.

2

'#,22

F(2'3,

..2

4.6 Future directions

'B

    C22          .  ,  ..D2  @  

;  ,     

,,2

?   ,,

              .            

3  ;  ,  C22  D2  '        

(.(

.

3    .    

,C:22G+<<4:A,

1+G?<D2'.,.

 C . 

,.:1

<J:    <6D ..,  

,3,,B2

4.7 Conclusion

@D..

D...

  2A.;     

 .  . 

.  C    .        .D2  ,        

;;;

,

2

5 Appendix A

....[

( , H(,.

+  ((((((((((((((((((((((6(((((((((((J(((((((((((H

A!A ((((((((((((((((((((((6(((((((((((J(((((((((((H

!!A ((((((((((((((((((((((6(((((((((((J(((((((((((H

@((((((((((((((((((((((6(((((((((((J(((((((((((H

A((((((((((((((((((((((6(((((((((((J(((((((((((H

+ ((((((((((((((((((((((6(((((((((((J(((((((((((H

 ((((((((((((((((((((((6(((((((((((J(((((((((((H

6 Appendix B

&;..[

Short name Item

+ @,.2

A @.   @,   3    .

2

PX; !,2

X @.@.@.2

!X ?@C22.

2D@,2

P, @,.@2

P,X @,.@2

? @..3.@

3,.2

0 @..

.2

 @.C.2D

..2

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((6(((((((((((((((J(((((((((((((((H

P..

7 Appendix C

''A

1..;

.2

1H,

.2

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((6(((((((((((((((J(((((((((((((((H

CD@.,2XXXXXXXX

CD@2XXXXXXXX

C6D@....2XXXXXXXX

CJD@@.,2XXXXXXXX

CHD@.@2XXXXXXXX

C7D@.2XXXXXXXX

C4D@2XXXXXXXX

C8D@.,2XXXXXXXX

C9D@.2XXXXXXXX

C<D@@.2XXXXXXXX

CD@2XXXXXXXX

CD!2XXXXXXXX

C6D@.,2XXXXXXXX

CJD@@2XXXXXXXX

CHD@,2XXXXXXXX

C7D@...2XXXXXXXX

C4DK.@..2XXXXXXXX

C8D@@@2XXXXXXXX



8 References

"#$%&&"#2C22D2 %'2

'!2 A2GA2C94D2@,..(

,.((2@2-2A..C)2D*-

2P\%'12

'1'2C<6D2-

2?+2-,.

%332.233A3?<H33+A*78<X<2.

'Q2G@Q2*2C<D2&,FA.]

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%3322333<2<8932<<H28269

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%332>23>2;[

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2.;8<"9<E942

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%;.2

)3=*>"C7DJ<HEJ2-,.

%33.2333<26<93<4<68<9<6867J

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.?CD9E6H2%<23>J2<9

+P2*2C997D2?.%@.;

,21-))"CJD8<E862

%<2<6433<<(6HJ242J28<

+P2G-A2C99<D2'B

21-#47JJE7762

&2C999D262!()2-,

.%33223[

YGYGY 01''''] 'QGY.GY11GBY!5555

5GYK.81,GY.?,]'Q!XK^-;IBK'#

A2G+*2C<<4D2+.2,#@CD68JE982

%<2<73>22<<42<2<<J

!2G*..+2C<D2&;;

2.;8ACDJJJEJJ92

%<2<73>22<2<2<H

)Q2C<JD2)CP,D2-,.

%33223[

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F-2C<D2K;..2;

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%&,..''@,

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..22-5<E82-,.

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F12G&!2C994D2'.,.%&.(

#2BC<JD749E4<<2-,.

%33>223XA<9HJH49J94<<699

F22@2GAQ2C<JD2&;,.,%

..B2.;8<

6JE62%<2<73>22<62<2<H6

F +2+2G!!2Q2C<<HD2&,..

%,21-

ABCHD46EJ72%<2<643<<(6HJ2892H24H

F-2GA,12C<<<D2'%&,

,B296-4CD

6EHJ2%<2<6433<89(78<2J226

^2C<JD2'%...

2@2+2*?212AG?2*2\C)2D.2

.C*C2JEJJD2%+-+12-,

.%33223[

YGYGYKK<;'''] 'QGY.GY1'JGBY'55

5555%

5!5..5.55GYKF>7!#GYB7)F4(

-4A6,-JA8

Q2A2C<6D2* -5

-2-,.

%332233<<3JJ8

2C<<7D2'C,D[A.2

-,.%3322.333364<<

..2G 2C99JD2!..%F

.21-

@"C6DJ6<2-,.%33223>3374363J6<3

Q22G P22C<D2+;CD%!

;C,D..2,63

4CD67E662%<2443J7JJJ8JH<J4

#+2GA,12C99JD22)2#CD

78E492-,.

%332.233.3<2<43H6497H<H<XH

!2G# 2C<<D21%+B2

1-C6D46E82-,.

%33223333A<4J9JJ<9<^

@2C<6D2*- 2

-2-,.%33223[

YGYGY&<'''] 'QGY.GY11GBY&55.5%

55555;GY1,\;,GY*7;^?0B&

]; J-\4

F2(\2+A2(@2G2(2C<D2'.

.

&,.2.;8AC7DHE

H92%<2<73>22<2<72<<

Q2G?(!!2C<D2'>

21-@CD49E92

-,.%33.>2333<2H32<272249

Q 2G1RQ2F2C<<D2!+--%!

10-0*,+'A2

.9<CD69EH2%<2<8<3<896J<<6H984J

.*2*!2-I22GA,2C<D2'>

.,21-C

)4ACJD9E942-,.

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A2C<JD2AG!<H2-,.

%33#23.3XXXXX<HX);,X

2.

'2*2A2a'2!2A,'2+2K2 #&2+,!2-2GP'2

)2C<6D2P%,,[

.;8BCDJ<EJJ2%<2<73>22<2<42<H

2C994D2'..,

..,..21--

-9<4E42-,.%332>233684HH6

*2'2C99JD2&..,2',

2!#69E7H2

*2'2GA,12-2C99D2''(&'-

*,- .2))8AC6D77E4H2

%<2443<J774986<<

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2.2.2-,.

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.2-,.%33223[

YGYGYA+]77B8+GY.GY11GBY&5!5+%

5&5+51

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',#A\

!#2*.2'2 2GP2C<<7D2,

..'\'0.!F F

-1F.'P21-E!

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284C<HD79E7662

-,.%33>223XA6HJ7H86<<<7H9

!Q2G#'2C<6D2\.

2.;

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%33223333A<4J4H766<<<8H^

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/F1-C) >ZJ6CD884

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.!CAD2.3 

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49E4J2-,.

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.%33223.399(<H8(<<

AA2()2P2(A2GQ)2(\2C<D2+.

2.

6+4CD77HE42%<2<8932<<2<J4<

A, 21*2+!2G?&2C<D2!,

,;.2)-

,!---!?CD4<E4H2

%<2<4632<9<6<3(3+A222333<2<463

2<9<6<

AI2G*+2C<<<D2(..2

68EH2-,.%332>23379H84

A,,*2C<<HD2!,.,283

2-*4CDE92%<2<8<3<JJ99<H6669<

AQ2*2-2G+2C<<4D2T!-@-N%@

'2@Q222''2A,G&2AC)2D

.??" .C2JHE7D2A 2

-,.%332233<2<<43948(6(HJ<(4J8H6(6X9

& 2GF*2C<<D22 !

' 2-,.%3322(2336H869J82.

&!2!22G!2C<<7D2!

(..,28) 

5<4C<D44E8J2-,.

%33223333<<73<<<<<<6J3<<<<<<<3<<<<8

&A2G 2C994D2.

21-)4CHD7<6E7H2-,.

%332233J3H37<62

&A2C<<7D2'(3((%&.2@Q2#C)2DC

;+-..2+!'%!@&12

-,.%33223[

YGYGYI'?''''] 'QGY.GY1'4JGBY'(3'((

%5&5&5A.GY?]+)GYF,,P!;6(,.B(A'P

12F&2+*2!Q2-2GA2C<6D2

*B....

/F,ZHHJ<H(<9

?)2C<JD2!-5 5!

2-,.%332233<<3JH<9

?A2Q2G-Q2C99<D2+.

2*21-!3;2

-,.%33223.399(674(<<

?-2G*2C<<7D2A,+

2,63ACDH6E42-,.

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Burden or refuge? Understanding predictors of smartphone burden and refuge

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2024
CURR PSYCHOL

Smartphone use has been widely studied in the empirical literature. One specific realm of research on smartphone use is the paradox of smartphone refuge, which is the perception of smartphones as a comfort; and smartphone burden, which is the view that smartphones are more of an annoyance. Currently, very few studies have examined this paradox and little awareness of what variables predict variations in smartphone burden and refuge have been identified. The goals of the current study were to explore the predictors of smartphone refuge and smartphone burden. With a sample of 379 participants from across the United States of America, we found that sex, anxiety, Need To Belong (NTB), loneliness, Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU), and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) predicted smartphone refuge. In addition, we found that depression, extroversion, stress, and telepressure predicted smartphone burden. This present study contributed to this sphere of smartphone research a better understanding of what could predict smartphone refuge and smartphone burden in individuals. Limitations and suggestions are outlined.

A study to assess the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme on knowledge and attitude regarding smartphone separation anxiety among tenth standard students at kamala central english high school, Bangalore

Article

Jan 2024

Negative parenting styles and problematic mobile phone use in university students: adult attachment and fear of missing out as chain mediators

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2024
CURR PSYCHOL

This study aimed to investigate the impact of negative parenting styles on problematic mobile phone use among college students, as well as the chain mediating role of adult attachment and fear of missing out (FoMO). The short-form EMBU, Experience in Close Relationship Inventory, Fear of Missing Out Scale, and Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale were completed by 1002 college students. Results showed that parental rejection and overprotection were positively correlated with college students’ problematic mobile phone use. The chain mediating effect of attachment anxiety(or attachment avoidance) and FoMO between negative parenting styles and problematic mobile phone use was significant. These findings suggest that negative parenting styles are closely associated with problematic mobile phone use among college students, and that adult attachment and FoMO play important roles in this relationship.

Parental Digital Media Usage During Caregiving: How Can Technology Reverberate in Parent–Infant Emotional Connection?

Chapter

Nov 2024

Parents tend to be distracted and less available in the presence of their infant when connected to their devices, even when they are physically in the same room. Parental usage of digital media, such as smartphones, during caregiving, may negatively affect the quality of parent–infant interactions, impacting the child’s development. This chapter discusses how this practice can reverberate on the quality of dyadic relationships, and it explores why adults use screens when they are interacting with their children.

Long-term relationships between users and smart voice assistants: the roles of experience and love

Article

Oct 2024
ONLINE INFORM REV

Purpose This study examines why long-term relationships between expert users and smart voice assistants (SVAs) develop. It postulates that the five dimensions of experience (i.e. sensory, affective, intellectual, behavioural and relational) generate feelings of love for SVAs. The formation of love is examined considering three components: passion, intimacy and commitment. These feelings encourage users to continue employing and to generate long-term relationships with SVAs. Design/methodology/approach Data from a survey of 403 USA expert users of SVAs provide the input for structural equation modelling. Findings The results show that three dimensions of experience influence users’ passion towards SVAs: affective, intellectual and behavioural. Moreover, passion can convert the effect of users’ experiences into intimacy and commitment. Finally, intimacy and commitment increase users’ intentions to continue using SVAs. Originality/value The findings obtained make three original contributions. First, this study is the first to analyse expert users of SVAs and the post-technology adoption stage. Therefore, it introduces a new case of relational marketing in smart technologies. Second, this study contributes by applying a new theoretical perspective that evaluates the importance of users’ experiences with SVAs. Third, it takes an interpersonal approach to explore user-SVA interactions, revealing that users can develop human-like love feelings for SVAs. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-10-2022-0570

Examination Of Nomophobia, Internet Addiction And Loneliness Levels Of University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Article

Sep 2024

The aim of this study is to examine the nomophobia, internet addiction, and loneliness levels of university students. The study group of this cross-sectional study consisted of 966 university students who responded to the items digitally and manually. Personal information form, Young Internet Addiction Scale Short Form, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Nomophobia Scale were used as data collection tools. SPSS version 24 was used for data analysis. It was found that students who used the internet for 5 hours or more had higher scores in nomophobia and loneliness. Additionally, male students had higher scores in nomophobia and internet addiction compared to female students. Sedentary students had higher scores in nomophobia and internet addiction compared to athletes. Based on the findings of this study, it can be said that sports have positive reflections on emotions and behaviors such as nomophobia, internet addiction, and loneliness. As the duration of internet use increases, emotions and behaviors such as addiction, anger, and loneliness negatively impact individuals' experiences.

Can nomophobia be a contemporary and novel cluster of symptoms of adult separation anxiety disorder?

Article

Sep 2024

Objective: The connection between adult separation anxiety disorder (ASAD) and nomophobia has been poorly investigated. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether there is a relationship between ASAD and nomophobia. Method: The sample consisted of 68 university students diagnosed with ASAD and 77 university students without ASAD. All participants were evaluated by a structured clinical interview, Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASA), Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory (SASI), Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). Result: Participants with ASAD had longer daily phone usage times and had a higher frequency of checking the phone during the day and the rates of carrying a charger than controls. Compared to the control group, participants with ASAD had significantly higher ASA, SASI, NMP-Q, and SAS-SV scores and more severe nomophobia levels. The ASA scores were significantly positively correlated with SASI, NMP-Q, and SAS-SV. Regarding predictors of nomophobia, ASA, SASI, and SAS-SV scores had a positive and significant effect on nomophobia, and predicted nomophobia. Conclusion: Our research adds to the body of knowledge on nomophobia by demonstrating that people with ASAD are susceptible to developing nomophobia. Clinicians should be aware of the association between ASAD and nomophobia, and nomophobia may be an important concept that should be considered in the therapy approach to patients with ASAD.

Introduction: Archaeologies of Emotion, Attachment, and Social Bonds

Chapter

Sep 2024

From cradle to grave, human behaviour is greatly influenced by our emotional attachments to other people, animals, objects, places, and ideologies. In this volume, “Archaeologies of Attachment”, we seek to explore new approaches in archaeological thought to study these bonds from the Palaeolithic to the recent past. This introduction provides a basic overview of attachment, considers attachment as a more general explanatory concept for social bonds, and offers a short introduction into the rest of the chapters contained within.

Archaeologies of Attachment: Understanding Social Relationships, Material Culture, Religion and Place

Chapter

Sep 2024

Taryn Bell

The notion that humans form socio-emotional bonds with other people is an underlying assumption of much archaeological work on social life in the past. Yet we have been slower to recognise the emotional role of non-humans. From our relationships with objects, animals, religious beliefs and important places, we can gain intense, palpable feelings of security, which impact our cognition and social behaviour, and which provide a wealth of benefits to our mental and physical health and well-being too. In this paper, I discuss how the psychological theory of attachment may provide useful insights into a variety of interpersonal and non-human socio-emotional relationships, helping us to understand why and how humans form attachment bonds. I will also discuss the significant, yet understudied, role played by so-called ‘compensatory’ attachment figures such as companion animals and cherished possessions. Attachment theory provides a simple, yet useful, framework with which to think about bonds in the past, and so allows us to broaden our conception of who—and what—plays an important role in our social and emotional lives. This has broader relevance in the modern world for how we think about concepts such as emotional resilience, material relationships and the significance of our social lives. Humans are, at heart, intensely social creatures, and thinking about the nature of our social lives and the role of attachment provides exciting insights into life in the past.

The Impact of Smartphone Deprivation on Attentional Bias in Problematic Smartphone Users: Evidence from Behavioral and Physiological Perspectives

Article

Aug 2024
COMPUT HUM BEHAV

Self-report measurement of adult attachment: An integrative overview

Article

Full-text available

Jan 1998

The mobile connection: The cell phone's impact on society

Book

Dec 2004

Rich Ling

Has the cell phone forever changed the way people communicate? The mobile phone is used for "real time" coordination while on the run, adolescents use it to manage their freedom, and teens "text" to each other day and night. The mobile phone is more than a simple technical innovation or social fad, more than just an intrusion on polite society. This book, based on world-wide research involving tens of thousands of interviews and contextual observations, looks into the impact of the phone on our daily lives. The mobile phone has fundamentally affected our accessibility, safety and security, coordination of social and business activities, and use of public places. Based on research conducted in dozens of countries, this insightful and entertaining book examines the once unexpected interaction between humans and cell phones, and between humans, period. The compelling discussion and projections about the future of the telephone should give designers everywhere a more informed practice and process, and provide researchers with new ideas to last years.

The capacity for understanding mental states: The reflective self in parent and child and its significance for security of attachment

Article

Jan 1991

Epidemiologists and psychoanalysts have been equally concerned about the intergenera‐tional concordance of disturbed patterns of attachment. Mary Main's introduction of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) has provided the field with an empirical tool for examining the concordance of parental and infant attachment patterns. In the context of a prospective study of the influence of parental patterns of attachment assessed before the birth of the first child upon the child's pattern of attachment to that parent at 1 year and at 18 months, the Anna Freud Centre—University College London Parent‐Child Project reported a significant level of concordance between parental security and the infant's security with that parent. In the context of this study, a new measure, aiming to assess the parent's capacity for understanding mental states, was developed and is reported on in this paper. The rating of Reflective‐Self Function, based upon AAI transcripts, correlated significantly with infant security classification based on Strange Situation assessments. The philosophical background and clinical importance of the measure are discussed.

The role of attachment in religious belief and behavior. Advances in personal relationships

Article

Jan 1994

Lee A. Kirkpatrick

Adolescent attachment and the mobile phone addiction

Chapter

Mar 2014

X Ge

The Ethological Analysis of Attachment

Article

Dec 1976
ETHOLOGY

Wolfgang Wickler

The purpose of this progress report is to discuss the concept of attachment from the ethological and from the socio-biological point of view. Recent advances in obtaining and interpreting sociometric data are summarized. The interrelationships of proximate and ultimate causes for attachment are outlined. Die Arbeit behandelt Ursachen und Auswirkungen von Bindungen. Bindungen kennzeichnen Abhängigkeiten der Lebewesen voneinander, von unbelebten Objekten oder von Orten. Die Art der Abhängigkeit beeinflußt das dem Bindungsobjekt gegenüber gezeigte Verhalten. Bindungen werden durch Verhaltensweisen sichtbar, die das Individuum bevorzugt oder ausschließlich in der Nähe des Bindungsobjektes ausführt oder auf es richtet. Typische Nähe zum Objekt der Bindung ist zwar leicht zu messen, aber nicht leicht zu deuten; denn die sich einstellende Entfernung vom Bindungsobjekt kann durch gleichzeitig aktive, in verschiedene Richtungen zielende Tendenzen bestimmt sein. Das Aufbauen einer Bindung ist ein Prozeß im Individuum, der dessen Verhaltensprogramm aufgrund sich anhäufender Erfahrungen verändert. Einen einfachen Bindungstrieb gibt es nicht. Vielmehr macht das Lebewesen sein momentanes Verhalten von einer Nutzen-Kosten-Abwägung abhängig. In die entsprechenden Optimierungsprozesse gehen viele Faktoren ein, auf die das Verhalten zurückwirkt. Dazu zählen auch Umweltfaktoren. Da jedes Sozialsystem auf einem Netzwerk verschiedener Bindungen beruht, wird verständlich, daß Sozialsysteme durch Umweltfaktoren verändert werden können. Selektionsvorteile bringen Bindungen vornehmlich auf zwei Ebenen: Sie helfen dem Individuum, seinen genetischen Beitrag zur nächsten Generation zu maximieren, und sie ermöglichen ihm, bereits getätigte Investitionen für sich auszubeuten und ökonomischer zu leben.

Value that marketing cannot manufacture: Cherished possessions as links to identity and wisdom

Article

Sep 2001
Generations

H. Whitmore

Phenomenological analysis of the importance of special possessions: An exploratory study

Article

Jan 1985
Adv Consum Res

E. Myers

Adult Romantic Attachment: Theoretical Developments, Emerging Controversies, and Unanswered Questions

Article

Jun 2000
REV GEN PSYCHOL

The authors review the theory of romantic, or pair-bond, attachment as it was originally formulated by C. Hazan and P. R. Shaver in 1987 and describe how it has evolved over more than a decade. In addition, they discuss 5 issues related to the theory that need further clarification: (a) the nature of attachment relationships, (b) the evolution and function of attachment in adulthood, (c) models of individual differences in attachment, (d) continuity and change in attachment security, and (e) the integration of attachment, sex, and caregiving. In discussing these issues, they provide leads for future research and outline a more complete theory of romantic attachment.

Models of the Self and Other: Fundamental Dimensions Underlying Measures of Adult Attachment

Article

Sep 1994

Three studies assessed the construct validity of the self- and other-model dimensions underlying the 4-category model of adult attachment (Bartholomew, 1990). Five methods were used to assess the hypothesized dimensions: self-reports, friend-reports, romantic partner reports, trained judges' ratings of peer attachment, and trained judges' ratings of family attachment. In each study, the convergent and discriminant validity of the dimensions were assessed by multitrait-multimethod matrices and by confirmatory factor analysis. Study 2 related the latent attachment dimensions to theoretically relevant outcome latent variables. As predicted, individuals' self models converged with direct measures of the positivity of their self-concepts, and individuals' other models converged with direct measures of the positivity of their interpersonal orientations. Study 3 related the latent attachment dimensions to 3 alternate self-report measures of adult attachment and showed that the 2 dimensions serve as an organizing framework for the different measurement approaches.

Humans' attachment to their mobile phones and its relationship with interpersonal attachment style

Abstract

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