Mobile Phone Addiction similar to Credit Card Misuse

A US research team has shown that mobile phone and instant messaging addiction are driven by materialism and impulsiveness, and can be compared to other consumer addictions like compulsive buying and credit card misuse, both of which are growing problems among young adults.

According to the team who conducted the study, materialism (the importance placed on material possessions) contributes to mobile phone addiction because it has a major impact on our decisions. Young adults view their mobile as essential to their happiness; the brand of phone purchased and the many opportunities to customize the phone’s look and sound make it an integral part of their self-identity. Materialists do not purchase brands solely for their status appeal but also for the social meaning they convey to others. The importance and public visibility of mobile phones to teens and young adults in today’s technology obsessed world is a strong social motive, driving people to exhibit addictive tendencies.

Impulsiveness also plays an important role in both behavioural and substance addictions.  Impulsive behaviour is when an individual makes choices that decrease future rewards but increase the immediate gains. Mobile phones and instant messaging provide the means to search for immediate social gratification when the current social setting fails to provide it. Behavioural addictions are often driven by a lack of impulse control when an individual is trying to cope with a negative mood state and this study suggests that mobile phones are a convenient coping tool.

Mobile phone addiction is clearly a growing problem and addicts are likely to be attempting to cope with stress, anxiety, and feelings of low self-worth; this issue needs to be addressed and should be treated in the same way that other addictions like credit card misuse are currently.