Study: People Feel Better With Their Phone Nearby, Even When They’re Not Using It

Stanford University recently conducted a study in which they divided a total of 125 students and put them into three groups -- one wherein they were allowed to use their mobile device as they like, another wherein they were instructed to put their handset on the table within their line of sight but not touch the handset, and the last group wherein no phones were used at all. Each group was placed inside an unadorned room and left there for a period of six minutes.

The methodology of the six minute experiments involved taking each test subject’s skin conductance. This refers to the measuring of a person’s sympathetic nervous system response, as well as the level of excitement or stimulation. The Stanford University research team also made sure to evaluate the participants’ levels of enjoyment and concentration after the experiments were conducted.

The group that was allowed to see their handset but not use it have reported less difficulty concentrating compared to the group that had no phones in their presence. The former also experienced skin conductance levels that were not as high as that of the latter group. This suggests that people may feel a lot better overall, if they can see their devices, even if they are not necessarily using them, at least for a brief period of time.

Based on this, could the mobile device be serving as a reminder, or even a symbol of our connectedness (both in terms of being connected to the Internet or being updated with the latest happenings, and in terms of being connected socially with other people)? Quite possibly. And simply put, its presence alone may make us feel generally less alone, even if we are actively engaged with the phone.

In yet another experiment, participants were made to freely use their mobile devices while undergoing surgery with local anesthetic, versus those without handsets. Those without devices were six times more likely to need opioids during surgery, compared to those who were allowed to use their phones. The participants who used handsets were given a choice to either send text messages or play the Angry Birds mobile game. Interestingly, those who were texting needed fewer opioids than those playing Angry Birds.

So much has already been discussed about the possible need to cut down on our mobile device addiction. In November of last year, results of a survey conducted by Deloitte showed that nearly 50 percent of US mobile users are making a conscious effort to significantly reduce their smartphone usage. While it is true that controlling our dependence on handsets can be a good thing, not completely avoiding our phones may also bring about some benefits. As they say, the trick is always in moderation.