Disrupted Daily Activities From Interruptive Smartphone Notifications: Relations With Depression and Anxiety Severity and the Mediating Role of Boredom Proneness
Abstract
Little prior research on computer or smartphone interruptive notifications (INs) has examined psychological constructs associated with their adverse effects. We examined several mental health constructs in relation to disruptions in various daily activities resulting from INs. A total of 316 undergraduate students completed a web survey querying severity of depression, anxiety, boredom proneness, emotional distress tolerance, and frequency of IN-related activity disruptions. Bivariate correlations revealed that IN-related activity disruptions were positively related to levels of depression, anxiety, and boredom proneness. Using structural equation modeling, boredom proneness mediated relations between depression severity and IN-related disruptions. Results are discussed within the context of theories on cognitive resource limitations and excessive Internet use.
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Several studies found that smartphone separation, being at risk of becoming a problematic smartphone user, and PSU led to increased anxiety.
“Several studies found that smartphone separation, being in the risk of becoming a problematic smartphone user, and PSU led to increased anxiety (e.g., Clayton et al., 2015;Elhai, Rozgonjuk, Alghraibeh, et al., 2019;Hartanto & Yang, 2016).”
From Antecedents and consequences of problematic smartphone use: A systematic literature review of an emerging research area (2021) · cites this paper as Elhai, Rozgonjuk, Alghraibeh, et al., 2019
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BackgroundThe limited capacity model of mediated message processing
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“For example, the limited capacity model of mediated message processing (LCM; Lang, 2000) suggests that people have finite cognitive resources in processing information.”
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“It should also be emphasized that at the present time, PSU is not formally classified as a diagnosis in medical or mental health diagnostic manuals, nor is it a commonly accepted “addictive disorder” in the scientific literature (Panova & Carbonell, 2018).”
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MethodEffects of intelligent notification management on users and their tasks
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- Authors
- Elhai, J. D., Rozgonjuk, D., Alghraibeh, A. M., & Yang, H.
- Affiliations
- Tianjin Normal University (CN)
- University of Tartu (EE)
- King Saud University (SA)
- Corresponding author
- Elhai, Jon D.
- Venue
- Social Science Computer Review
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2019-06-18
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 20-37
- ISSN
- 0894-4393 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-8286
- OpenAlex
- W2952378945
- Cited by
- 72
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 8.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Social Science Computer Review (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Personal Information Management and User Behavior
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Technostress in Professional Settings
- Keywords
- mobile notifications, depression severity, anxiety levels, boredom proneness, mediation, excessive internet use, undergraduate students
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