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We can all use our cell phones a lot, but the good news is that we do not have to give up completely for good health, according to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.
On average, people spend more than three hours looking at a cell phone screen. It’s not just a phone, cell phones are used by Google, browsing directions, checking emails, reading news, watching movies, and the list remains optimistic. Studies have shown that cell phone use is associated with obesity, neck pain, and addictive behaviors. "A smartphone is a blessing and a curse," said Drs. Julia Brailovskaia based in Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) in Germany.
To find out how much these substances affect our lives, Drs. Brailovskaia and his team set out to determine if we would be better off without a cell phone. Not entirely without a cell phone, but the team wanted to determine how little smartphone use per day is right for us.
The team of psychologists consisted of more than 600 participants divided into three groups: one group determined to live without their cell phones for a week, one to reduce their day by one hour, and a third to use cell phones as usual. The researchers also interviewed all participants about their lifestyle and well-being just before the start of the study, and then repeated one and four months later. The questionnaire included questions about exercise, smoking, symptoms of depression, and anxiety, to name just a few.
The results were clear: a group that did not discard their cell phones but simply reduced their use was the most successful. Reducing the number of hours you use the phone has had a positive effect. "We found that both the complete abandonment of the smartphone and the reduction in its daily use for one hour had a profound effect on the lifestyle and well-being of participants," said Dr. Brailovskaia.
Moreover, in the group with limited use, these effects lasted longer and were more stable than in the control group. Even four months after the test, members of this group still use their cell phones less often than before and report less stress and a better quality of life. "You don't have to give up the smartphone altogether to feel better," concludes Dr. Brailovskaia. "There may be a good time for daily use."
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