British scientists surveyed 100 working adults about their phone use habits and then conducted psychological tests on them to determine their stress levels. They found that the more often someone checked his or her phone, the higher that person's stress levels were likely to be.
But what was interesting about their study results was that the stress didn't appear to be work related. Although people often get smartphones for work purposes, they wind up using them to keep in touch with friends via texting, email, and social media sites. And, in the study, as personal use of smartphones increased, so did stress, with the most stressed subjects experiencing "phantom vibrations" of new email or text alerts. At that point, the phones turn into something of a double-edged sword: The more stressed a person becomes, the more likely he is to check his phone, which increases stress levels, and on and on.
The easiest fix for the problem is simply to spend some time away from your phone. Turn it off, suggests Richard Balding, PhD, a psychologist at the UK's University of Worcester, or find some other way to keep yourself from compulsively checking your phone, even if that means locking it in your trunk while you're driving. After all, just checking your phone for a new message can up your risk of an automobile accident.
"Everyone needs a break, some time on your own," he told HealthDay.com. "Otherwise there's a risk that the stress and tension that build up from keeping engaged can end up having a negative impact on relationships."
He also has some tips for employers, even though the stress in this study stemmed largely from personal uses of the phones: Limit after-hour emails so people don't feel compelled to check their phones. "Organizations will not flourish if their employees are stressed, irrespective of the source of stress, so it is in their interest to encourage their employees to switch their phones off," he said.