Women are using smartphones for four hours a day or longer and are more prone to succumb to smartphone addiction than men, the first-ever academic study on this topic has revealed.
Korea Times reported on Monday, that the study, conducted in South Korea, showed that 52% of the women in the survey used their smartphones for four hours a day or longer far higher than the comparable ratio of 29.4% among men.
The ratios of respondents who use smartphones for six hours a day were also 22.9% for women and 10.8% for men.
According to Professor Chang Jae-yeon of Ajou University in South Korea, his study was based on a survey of 1,236 students at six colleges in Suwon, Gyeonggi province.
“We expect adolescents are likely to show similar results. Female users are advised to consciously put their phones out of their reach from time to time,” Chang said.
Women pick up smartphones mainly for social networking website including Facebook and Instagram , using these services far more than just making calls, games and searches combined, while men use smartphones mainly during breaks.
One in five women (20.1%) said they have insecure feelings beyond normal when they cannot use their smartphones while only 8.9% of the men felt so.
For many women, the addiction to their smartphones has gone beyond simple hobbies to have reached a stage adversely affecting their mental health.[related-posts]
“Women’s desires for networking and communication are far stronger than men’s, which drive them to become more dependent on social network service via their smartphones,” the study noted.
[IANS]