"Smart" mobile phones are addictive and the more you use them, the more addictive they become. The average user spends 3.6 hours a day on their smartphones. This is revealed by new research conducted by the University of Derby, according to which sadness, loneliness and jealousy are all signs of smartphone addiction, combined with an obsession with appearance. Psychology professor, Dr Zaheer Hussain, who led the research team, says that the more you use a smartphone, the greater the chance you have of eventually becoming… addicted to it.He explained to MailOnline that high levels of narcissism - defined as an excessive interest in or admiration for oneself and one's physical appearance - is the most common and visible sign of this addiction.
The obsession with selfies and their public display on social media is a "key" indicator.
"A significantly positive relationship was found between narcissism and smartphone addiction, suggesting that the more narcissistic someone is, the more likely they are to be addicted to their smartphone," the professor commented.
The research showed that 13% of the 256 participants, with an average age of 29, were addicted to smartphones.
As a result, researchers believe it should be mandatory for those selling such devices to disclose their potentially addictive properties.
"This research shows what can happen with excessive use of smart devices and the impact they can have on psychological well-being. We now use these devices on a daily basis for various activities, so knowing their potential psychological effects is considered particularly important," the professor added and continued: "There are many smartphone applications, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Skype and Candy Crush that make the use of these devices more psychologically attractive and can lead to addiction.".
The survey also revealed that the average user uses such devices 3.6 hours a day, with social media and messaging apps being the most popular.
