Mobile phone addiction tendencies in young people

The need to be in constant connection to their peers is one of the strongest motivations for young peoples’ high mobile phone use.

This is the conclusion of Shari Walsh and colleagues at the Queensland University of Technology. Shari Walsh will present these findings today, Thursday 6th September 2007, at the British Psychological Society’s Social Psychology Section Annual Conference held at the University of Kent, Canterbury.
The findings are based on two studies carried out with young people aged 15 to 24 years. The results showed that being constantly connected to others was what they most valued about their mobile phones. Interestingly some displayed addictive tendencies towards their mobile phone and reported they felt unable to control their compulsion and felt distressed when they were unable to use it. Addictive tendencies were most likely to be found amongst young people whose self-concept included being a mobile phone user.

Commenting on these findings, Mrs Walsh stated that: "Mobile phone use has become such an important part of young people’s lives that some are showing signs of addictive tendencies. It may be that mobile phone use is a new form of social addiction where people become addicted to being constantly connected to others."

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