Abstract
Previous research shows that high Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use is associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and overall psychological distress; however, there are few relevant studies on this topic. The current study was conducted to explore the relationship between Internet and mobile phone use and mental health. In Study 1, participants were given questionnaires to assess their manner of mobile phone and Internet use and their levels of depression and anxiety. There were strong positive relationships between lower mental health and problematic ICT use, especially when people turned to ICTs to avoid negative experiences or feelings. However, when participants used ICTs merely to escape boredom, no link was found between ICT use and mental health problems. Study 2 was completed to observe how students utilize their mobile phones to cope or escape from feelings related to an anxiety-inducing situation. Results indicated that the mobile phone may offer a small "security blanket" effect, lowering the initial negative reaction to stress, although the pattern of stress over the course of the experiment was the same for participants in all groups. Our findings suggest that long term utilization of ICTs as an emotional coping strategy may have a negative influence on mental health and/or exacerbate mental health predispositions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 249-258 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Computers in Human Behavior |
| Volume | 58 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1 2016 |
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Keywords
- Avoidance coping
- Escapism
- Internet
- Mental health
- Mobile phones
- Smartphones
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Psychology(all)
Cite this
Avoidance or boredom : Negative mental health outcomes associated with use of Information and Communication Technologies depend on users' motivations. / Panova, Tayana; Lleras, Alejandro.
In: Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 58, 01.05.2016, p. 249-258.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Avoidance or boredom
T2 - Negative mental health outcomes associated with use of Information and Communication Technologies depend on users' motivations
AU - Panova, Tayana
AU - Lleras, Alejandro
PY - 2016/5/1
Y1 - 2016/5/1
N2 - Previous research shows that high Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use is associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and overall psychological distress; however, there are few relevant studies on this topic. The current study was conducted to explore the relationship between Internet and mobile phone use and mental health. In Study 1, participants were given questionnaires to assess their manner of mobile phone and Internet use and their levels of depression and anxiety. There were strong positive relationships between lower mental health and problematic ICT use, especially when people turned to ICTs to avoid negative experiences or feelings. However, when participants used ICTs merely to escape boredom, no link was found between ICT use and mental health problems. Study 2 was completed to observe how students utilize their mobile phones to cope or escape from feelings related to an anxiety-inducing situation. Results indicated that the mobile phone may offer a small "security blanket" effect, lowering the initial negative reaction to stress, although the pattern of stress over the course of the experiment was the same for participants in all groups. Our findings suggest that long term utilization of ICTs as an emotional coping strategy may have a negative influence on mental health and/or exacerbate mental health predispositions.
AB - Previous research shows that high Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use is associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and overall psychological distress; however, there are few relevant studies on this topic. The current study was conducted to explore the relationship between Internet and mobile phone use and mental health. In Study 1, participants were given questionnaires to assess their manner of mobile phone and Internet use and their levels of depression and anxiety. There were strong positive relationships between lower mental health and problematic ICT use, especially when people turned to ICTs to avoid negative experiences or feelings. However, when participants used ICTs merely to escape boredom, no link was found between ICT use and mental health problems. Study 2 was completed to observe how students utilize their mobile phones to cope or escape from feelings related to an anxiety-inducing situation. Results indicated that the mobile phone may offer a small "security blanket" effect, lowering the initial negative reaction to stress, although the pattern of stress over the course of the experiment was the same for participants in all groups. Our findings suggest that long term utilization of ICTs as an emotional coping strategy may have a negative influence on mental health and/or exacerbate mental health predispositions.
KW - Avoidance coping
KW - Escapism
KW - Internet
KW - Mental health
KW - Mobile phones
KW - Smartphones
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84958769803&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84958769803&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.chb.2015.12.062
DO - 10.1016/j.chb.2015.12.062
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84958769803
VL - 58
SP - 249
EP - 258
JO - Computers in Human Behavior
JF - Computers in Human Behavior
SN - 0747-5632
ER -