Whether behavioural addictions should be conceptualised using a similar framework to substance-related addictions remains a topic of considerable debate. Previous literature has developed criteria, which allows any new behavioural addiction to be considered analogous to substance-related addictions. These imply that abstinence from a related object (e.g. smartphones for heavy smartphone users) would lead to mood fluctuations alongside increased levels of anxiety and craving. In a sample of smartphone users, we measured three variables (mood, anxiety, and craving) on four occasions, which included a 24-hour period of smartphone abstinence. Only craving was affected following a short period of abstinence. The results suggest that heavy smartphone usage does not fulfil the criteria required to be considered an addiction. This may have implications for other behavioural addictions.
Funding
Faculty of Science and Technology research grant (PSA7866) from Lancaster University
History
School
Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Published in
Addictive Behaviors
Volume
99
Issue
December 2019
Citation
WILCOCKSON, T.D.W. ... et al., 2019. Digital detox: The effect of smartphone withdrawal on mood, anxiety, and craving. Addictive Behaviors, 99 (December 2019), 106013.
This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Addictive Behaviors and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.06.002.