A recent study in the Spanish population points out that craving for the mobile phone – that intense impulse to check it – is a key component of problematic use. Research shows that this phenomenon:
• It is more common in young people (under 35 years of age)
• It is related to anxiety, depression and impulsivity
• And with the problematic use of video games and gambling
It’s not just about how long we use our phone, it’s about how difficult it is to resist the urge to pick it up. When you combine individual vulnerability, emotional distress, and technologies designed to capture our attention, the risk of problematic use increases.
