Cited by 115Impact of Technology on AdolescentsSexuality, Behavior, and TechnologyDigital Media and Philosophy

Digital detox: The effect of smartphone abstinence on mood, anxiety, and craving

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Wilcockson, T.D.W., Osborne, A.M., Ellis, D.A.·2019·Addictive Behaviors

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

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.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.06.002

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  • Some work has measured the effects of smartphone abstinence (up to 24 hours) on short-term outcomes such as mood, anxiety and craving.

    “some work has measured the effects of smartphone abstinence (for up to 24 hours) on short-term outcomes such as mood, anxiety and craving [53].”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Ellis, D.A., Kaye, L.K., Wilcockson, T.D.W., & Ryding, F.C. (2018). Digital Traces of behaviour within addiction: Response to Griffiths (2017). International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 1- 6.

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Authors
Wilcockson, T. D. W., Osborne, A. M., & Ellis, D. A.
Affiliations
  • Loughborough University (GB)
  • Duke-NUS Medical School (SG)
  • Lancaster University (GB)
Corresponding author
Wilcockson, T.D.W.
Venue
Addictive Behaviors
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-12
Volume
99
Pages
106013
ISSN
0306-4603 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2948450950
Cited by
115
References
21
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 19
FWCI
22.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
erratum (2020-05-01)
Open access
Locations
  • Addictive Behaviors (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) (submittedVersion)
  • Loughborough University Institutional Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Loughborough University Research Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
  • PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Lancaster University
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Science Applications › Digital Media and Philosophy
Keywords
smartphone addiction, behavioral addiction, craving, anxiety, mood, digital detox
MeSH terms
Smartphone, Cell Phone Use, Affect, Anxiety, Female, Humans, Male, Behavior, Addictive, Young Adult, Craving

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