Smartphone addiction is no joke, and now there is a scientific way to measure it.
A new study from Iowa State University has identified some of the main causes of nomophobia - that “no cell phone” - with a new survey of 20 questions measuring iPhone autonomy.
"Nomophobia is considered a modern phobia introduced into our lives as a result of communication between humans and mobile information and communication technology, especially cell phones," Caglar Yildirim, one of the study's authors, told the Huffington Post in an email. "It means the fear of not being able to use a smartphone ... [and] refers to the fear of not being able to communicate, the loss of connectivity allowing smartphones, the inability to access information about smartphones, and quitting. The comfort offered by smartphones."
Are you a smartphone junkie? Rate each item on a scale 1 ("I totally disagree") to 7 ("strongly agree") and add your total points to get it. Be honest!
1. I can feel uncomfortable without regular access to information on my smartphone.
2. I would get annoyed if I could not view the information on my smartphone when I wanted to do so.
3. Not being able to get the news (e.g., event, weather, etc.) on my smartphone can make me nervous.
4. I would be upset if I could not use my smartphone and / or its capabilities when I wanted to do so.
5. Lack of battery on my smartphone can scare me.
6. If I were to run out of credit or reach my monthly data limit, I would be shocked.
7. If I did not have a data signal or could not connect to Wi-Fi, I would check regularly to see if I had a signal or could find a Wi-Fi network.
8. If I couldn’t use my smartphone, I would be scared to get lost somewhere.
9. If I can't check my smartphone for a while, I might want to check it.