A digital detox does not improve wellbeing, say psychologists
A 24-hour period of abstinence from your smartphone induces cravings, but mood and anxiety remain stable, say psychologists.
The study, led by Dr Thom Wilcockson of Loughborough University, asked participants to place their phone in a secure sealed bag for 24 hours with a request not to open it.
In a small sample of smartphone users, psychologists measured three variables -mood, anxiety, and craving- on four occasions, which included a 24-hour period of smartphone abstinence.
Only craving was affected following this brief period of abstinence, but it had no impact on mood and anxiety.
Dr Wilcockson, of the University’s School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, said: “The craving results indicate that, as expected, people enjoy using their smartphones and miss them when they are unavailable. However, our results indicate that it may be inappropriate to consider smartphones in the same framework as behavioural addictions as we found little evidence that they meet important behavioural addiction criteria.”
Dr David Ellis, a lecturer in Computational Social Science at Lancaster University, added: “The growing popularity of ‘digital detoxes’ has been encouraged by claims that removing oneself from technology can help reduce stress and improve well-being. However, our results suggest that a short-term digital detox from your smartphone is unlikely to provide any health benefits.”
The study, published in Addictive Behaviours, was led by Dr Thomas Wilcockson, formerly of Lancaster University and now at Loughborough University, with Lancaster University’s Dr David Ellis and Mr Ashley Osborne of the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore.
Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 19/135
Loughborough University is equipped with a live in-house broadcast unit via the Globelynx network. To arrange an interview with one of our experts please contact the press office on 01509 223491. Bookings can be made online via www.globelynx.com
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2019 QS World University Rankings, University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019 and top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey.
Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2020, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and 8th in The UK Complete University Guide 2020.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
Loughborough staff, students and alumni make a real difference. They challenge convention, think creatively and find solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing society today and in the future.
A 24-hour period of abstinence from your smartphone induces cravings, but mood and anxiety remain stable, say psychologists.
The study, led by Dr Thom Wilcockson of Loughborough University, asked participants to place their phone in a secure sealed bag for 24 hours with a request not to open it.
In a small sample of smartphone users, psychologists measured three variables -mood, anxiety, and craving- on four occasions, which included a 24-hour period of smartphone abstinence.
Only craving was affected following this brief period of abstinence, but it had no impact on mood and anxiety.
Dr Wilcockson, of the University’s School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, said: “The craving results indicate that, as expected, people enjoy using their smartphones and miss them when they are unavailable. However, our results indicate that it may be inappropriate to consider smartphones in the same framework as behavioural addictions as we found little evidence that they meet important behavioural addiction criteria.”
Dr David Ellis, a lecturer in Computational Social Science at Lancaster University, added: “The growing popularity of ‘digital detoxes’ has been encouraged by claims that removing oneself from technology can help reduce stress and improve well-being. However, our results suggest that a short-term digital detox from your smartphone is unlikely to provide any health benefits.”
The study, published in Addictive Behaviours, was led by Dr Thomas Wilcockson, formerly of Lancaster University and now at Loughborough University, with Lancaster University’s Dr David Ellis and Mr Ashley Osborne of the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore.
Notes for editors
Press release reference number: 19/135
Loughborough University is equipped with a live in-house broadcast unit via the Globelynx network. To arrange an interview with one of our experts please contact the press office on 01509 223491. Bookings can be made online via www.globelynx.com
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2019 QS World University Rankings, University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019 and top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey.
Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2020, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and 8th in The UK Complete University Guide 2020.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.
Loughborough staff, students and alumni make a real difference. They challenge convention, think creatively and find solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing society today and in the future.
