LISS 2024. Authors: Wendy Wagenaar, Rob Bovens (Tilburg University, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral), Herm Kisjes (Fontys Hogeschol).
Smartphone usage has significantly increased in the Netherlands, with the population owning a smartphone rising from 80% in 2017 to 91% in 2022. On average, we spend nearly three hours per day on our smartphones. The growing integration of smartphones into daily life raises concerns about the potential for smartphone “addiction”, where individuals become anxious without their phones. While not officially recognized as a psychiatric disorder, excessive smartphone use is linked to issues like depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. Despite substantial research on smartphone “addiction” in adolescents and students, little is known about its indicators across the entire population. This study aims to investigate indicators of smartphone use and smartphone “addiction”, and their associations with demographic, personality, and health behavior-related variables among the Dutch population. Additionally, we will evaluate attitudes towards intervention methods to reduce smartphone use. Using the LISS panel, our findings will offer valuable insights for policymakers and provide recommendations to address smartphone “addiction”.
Picture by Andrej Lišakov on Unsplash