Study: Social networking on smart phones is stressful

A recent study found that there is stress associated with the personal use of smart phones, but not with work. 

In particular, a relationship was found between stress and the amount of times a phone is checked, with the most stressed people experiencing "phantom" vibrations (none actually happening). 

Psychologist Richard Balding, from the University of Worcester, presented the findings from this study on January 12 at the British Psychological Society’s Division of Occupational Psychology Conference in Chester.

Balding advised organisations to consider the problem seriously. “Smart phone use is increasing at a rapid rate and we are likely to see an associated increase in stress from social networking," he said. "Organisations will not flourish if their employees are stressed, irrespective of the source of stress, so it is in their interest to encourage their employees to switch their phones off; cut the number of work emails sent out of hours, reduce people’s temptation to check their devices.”

For more on the study, click here. To read more about mindfulness and technology, read The Digital World Connects, and blog posts Tech Support for the Hopelessly Connected and Is it Time to Unplug? by "On Mental Health" blogger Elisha Goldstein. 

01/17/12