Researcher Discusses Smartphone Addiction

Associate Professor of Psychology and Counseling Melissa DiMartino, Ph.D., is quoted in a Yahoo article about the growing number of young people trading their smartphones for flip phones to become less technology-dependent and more mindful. DiMartino, who has researched the mental health impacts of smartphones in the college classroom, notes that smartphone addiction changes how the brain is wired. As she explains, looking at your phone to feel better becomes an addictive cycle that ultimately leads people to feel depressed and lonely when they aren’t getting those alerts. Increased anxiety and stress can also result from the continuous stream of updates and constant connectivity.

“Smartphones have the same chemical reaction in the brain as drugs and alcohol. Getting ‘likes,’ messages, and notifications from your phone releases dopamine, which makes us feel good. And, in turn, we want to repeat these feel-good behaviors,” says DiMartino.

The article also appeared on AOL.com.