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An Analysis of Factors Influencing the Willingness to Participate in a Long-Term ‘Digital Detox’ with the Smartphone

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HCI International 2020 - Posters (HCII 2020)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1226))

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Abstract

Studies showed that habitualization of smartphone use may result in a compulsive usage. Resolutions to reduce overuse also known as a ‘digital detox’ are an emerging trend. Previous studies analyzing the effects of a short voluntary smartphone separation focused on anxiety and ‘Fear of Missing Out’ (FoMO) and revealed positive correlations between the separation of the smartphone and these factors. First studies have started to widen the perspective and analyze three weeks of separation. A considerably long-term ‘smartphone detox’ has not been studied, yet. To close the gap, our study aimed to analyze a list of factors, which were shown to be associated with problematic smartphone usage (frequency of usage, age, FoMO, Nomophobia), regarding their impact on participants’ (N = 120) willingness to limit one’s smartphone usage for the six-week-period of the Christian Lent. Results showed a significant relation between frequency of smartphone usage, FoMO, Nomophobia and the willingness to abstain from one’s smartphone for six weeks. Overall, this study serves as an initial research on the underlying psychological effects of smartphone usage and a long-term ‘digital detox’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Julius-Maximilians University Wuerzburg, Oswald-Kuelpe-Weg 82, 97074, Würzburg, Germany

    Catharina Muench, Lena Feulner, Ricardo Muench & Astrid Carolus

Authors
  1. Catharina Muench
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  2. Lena Feulner
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  3. Ricardo Muench
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  4. Astrid Carolus
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Correspondence to Catharina Muench .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Crete and Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Constantine Stephanidis

  2. Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Margherita Antona

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Muench, C., Feulner, L., Muench, R., Carolus, A. (2020). Time to Log Off. In: Stephanidis, C., Antona, M. (eds) HCI International 2020 - Posters. HCII 2020. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1226. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50732-9_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50732-9_28

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-50731-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-50732-9

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