A new research article explores how young adults in Sweden perceive their own and others’ smartphone use. Published by Nordicom, the study reveals that many young people, particularly women, experience stress and anxiety related to their use of smartphones.
Smartphones are indispensable, yet their grip on daily life is becoming a growing source of unease. A new study from Nordicom finds that concerns about screen time run deep, particularly among women. Drawing on a national survey and focus group interviews with Swedes aged 20 to 35, the research highlights a mounting awareness of the trade-offs of constant connectivity. Many young adults report feeling a kind of moral stress – torn between their reliance on smartphones and the prevaling sense that they should be using them less.
– Our findings indicate that young people in Sweden often feel a disconnect between their smartphone use and their own expectations, says Professor André Jansson, who led the study. Many see themselves as overly dependent on their phones, a reliance that often comes with negative emotions.
Gendered Stress
The study identifies clear gender differences, with young women reporting higher levels of stress related to smartphone use compared with young men. They also express feeling less in control of their usage.
– Our results show that young women frequently experience a stronger sense of dependence and stress related to their smartphones. They often feel that they waste time on their devices, which in turn affects their ability to focus on other aspects of life they consider more important, says Professor Karin Fast, who led the focus group component of the study.
The study further reveals that young women experience a greater discrepancy between their actual smartphone use and their desired habits, a phenomenon known as “moral dissonance”.
The “It’s Not Me, It’s Them” Illusion
The research also indicates that individuals, including young adults, often perceive others as more vulnerable to the negative effects of smartphone use than they perceive themselves to be.
– Distancing oneself from perceived problematic behaviours is a well-documented phenomenon in research, as individuals often view themselves as better at managing the negative effects of media consumption than others. However, our findings indicate that young adults, compared with older generations, demonstrate a heightened awareness of the potential drawbacks of smartphone use, including their own. Given their highly connected lifestyles, they can readily identify personal negative experiences or those of people within their social circles, says Jansson.
Further Reading (Open Access): Smartphone Morality: A Mixed-Method Study of How Young Adults Judge Their Own and Other’s People’s Digital Media Reliance by André Jansson, Karin Fast, Stina Bengtsson, & Johan Lindell.
Image: Adobe Stock.