Keep on scrolling? Using intensive longitudinal smartphone sensing data to assess how everyday smartphone usage behaviors are related to well-being

Smartphones are an integral part of daily life for many people worldwide. However, concerns have been raised that long usage times and the fragmentation of daily life through smartphone usage are detrimental to well-being. This preregistered study assesses (1) whether differences in smartphone usage behaviors between in-dividuals predict differences in a variety of well-being measures (between-person effects) and (2) whether dif-ferences in smartphone usage behaviors between situations predict whether an individual is feeling better or worse (within-person effects). In addition to total usage time, several indicators capturing the fragmentation of usage/nonusage time were developed. The study combines objectively measured smartphone usage with self-reports of well-being in surveys (N = 236) and an experience sampling period (N = 378, n = 5775 data-points). To ensure the robustness of the results, we replicated our analyses in a second measurement period (surveys: N = 305; experience sampling: N = 534, n = 7287 datapoints) and considered the pattern of effects across different operational definitions and constructs. Results show that individuals who use their smartphone more report slightly lower well-being (between-person effect) but no evidence for within-person effects of total usage time emerged. With respect to fragmentation, we found no robust association with well-being.

Automated summary

This study examines the impact of smartphone usage behaviors on well-being through objective measurements and self-report surveys. The results show that individuals who use their smartphones more tend to have slightly lower well-being, but there is no evidence of within-person effects of total usage time. There is also no robust association between fragmentation of smartphone usage and well-being.