Introduction
Technological innovations and social media have significantly influenced modern people’s social lives and many areas of human activity. These novelties have created the preconditions for new opportunities and conveniences, as well as habits and addictions. Excessive use of cell phones has become a significant concern among researchers and health professionals, as it has demonstrated addiction traits. Researchers state that “around 4.5 billion people use the cellphone worldwide,” and that is already an everyday necessity (Goswami and Singh 69). There is an opinion that addiction to the cellphone hurts social life and satisfaction with it. It is argued that cellphone use is not a negative factor in itself, but it is a consequence of particular psychological and social problems in modern life. This paper proposes and describes a Comprehensive Integrated Approach Program (CIAP) that combines methods of research and solution to the root causes of addiction and measures to cope with its negative symptoms.
Significance of the Problem
It has been revealed that addiction to the phone is associated with several frustrating psychological and social phenomena that limit engagement in social life. For instance, researchers provide evidence that smartphone addiction risk positively correlates with perceived stress and is negatively correlated with academic performance, which can threaten satisfaction with life (Samaha and Hawi 321). There is also data indicating that cellphone addiction is associated with psychological disorders and poor sleep quality and quantity (Kuhdasht et al. 189; Mohammadbeigi et al. 46). Thus, technological innovations that were designed to make life more convenient and manageable have become associated with new challenges.
It should be noted that this issue is primarily relevant for teenagers and adolescents. People who were born in the digital age perceive cellphones and social media as an integral part of their lives, and they are those who are especially exposed to the mentioned adverse effects. They are very similar to traditional addiction symptoms and include “impulsiveness, mounting tension before using the device, failure of control strategies, and withdrawal symptoms” (Goswami and Singh 70). Researchers point out that the possible root causes of cellphone overuse can be depression and impulse control deficit (Goswami and Singh 70). These disturbing behavioral patterns affect daily life and cause both relationship and performance problems (Billieux et al. 156). Therefore, the younger generations need effective assistance that would allow them to cope with these challenges.
Ineffective Solutions
Many ineffective solutions and measures being applied, for example, in educational settings, are based on methods of stigmatization and prohibition. Given that this addiction is the result of deeper problems, censure and condemnation can only exacerbate its adverse effects. Moreover, researchers suggest that fear of missing out may be one of the main factors in the maladaptive use of cell phones and social networks (Fuster et al. 28). This fear implies the unpleasant feelings of missing out on specific pleasant experiences in which others participate and losing involvement in what others do. Thus, the addiction under discussion may be motivated by the need for social affiliation. Consequently, condemnation of this will only cause excessive resistance and negative emotions, since this need is an integral part of the social personality.
The least effective measure in this regard, which is frequently taken by parents, is prohibition. In this way, addicts are deprived of the perceived ability to meet their needs or to cope with adverse conditions such as depression and impulse control deficit. Moreover, smartphones are currently providing specific amenities that young people often consider to be an essential part of their lifestyle. In this sense, a prohibition is unnecessary, ineffective, and, most importantly, unable to address the fundamental causes of the addiction problem.
Addressing Root Causes
The CIAP focuses on two main areas of effort: research and resolution of root causes of addiction, and methods of mitigating significant harmful symptoms. The research data in this regard still appear to be disparate and unsystematic. The main objective of the investigation should be to identify the factors that cause excessive use of telephones, which subsequently affect the psychological and physical condition of the person. It is observed that despite the poor research on the issue, few hypotheses have been put forward as to why mobile phones appear to be so appealing. For instance, according to Space, there is a suggestion that cellphones “provide immediate access to communication as well as a less intimate method of interaction for those experiencing social anxiety” (153). In this way, people can communicate from a distance and feel part of the community. At the same time, the technological mediation of communication with other people is proven to be associated with increased anxiety and stress levels, a feeling of deprivation, and health problems (Kuhdasht et al. 190). Moreover, it is paradoxical that it is positively related to deterioration in the quality of social interaction.
Thus, the study of underlying factors is necessary to identify and eliminate the root cause of the addiction. If the problems are social anxiety and depression, addicts need psychotherapeutic interventions and a supportive attitude. If the clinical and neuropsychological researchers discover that there are physiological reasons for this addiction, they should be addressed by qualified professionals. Billieux et al. state that the phenomenon of cellphone addiction “lacks studies that definitively show behavioral and neurobiological similarities between mobile phone addiction and other types of legitimate addictive behaviors” (156). Thus, the research methods are required to develop a logically consistent theory of the emergence of addiction and to identify measures that can eliminate its root causes.
Other Necessary Measures
Besides, the CIAP is designed to provide people who are addicted to cellphone use with appropriate assistance aimed at coping with its adverse effects. According to Mohammadbeigi et al., “predefined sport, educational, cultural, and interesting entertainments are the essential” measures “to preventing cellphone addiction and lower usage from social networks in smartphones” (49). The CIAP includes a group of entertainment and sports events that allows people to feel more engaged in active social life and provide an opportunity to satisfy the need for social affiliation.
This program also implies developing a highly functional mobile application that helps raise awareness of cellphone usage through statistics and alerting systems. A probable reason for tolerating addiction can be ignorance of how mobile devices’ excessive use affects life and how much time it takes. People who receive feedback on the real implications of this phenomenon may themselves become willing to change the situation. At this stage, various adapted versions of addiction programs that are widely used to address traditional addictions, such as substance or alcohol abuse, may turn out to be effective. The proven effectiveness of these programs and related applications can be put into the context of cellphone addiction and enable people to obtain more reliable data on their addictive behavior.
Possible Challenges
The major challenge may be the addicts themselves not willing to solve the problem or recognize its existence. Researchers note that the mechanism of addiction, as a rule, implies a vicious circle consisting of dysfunctional attitudes and behavioral patterns (Samaha and Hawi 322). According to the authors, the vicious circle model, in this case, may include telephone addiction that negatively affects academic performance and other social conditions, which in turn reduce life satisfaction and increase perceived stress (Samaha and Hawi 322). Accordingly, the mechanism of the interplay of these factors can be strongly interconnected and can cause significant discomfort when trying to interrupt it.
Furthermore, identifying the root causes of addiction can pose particular difficulties, since it is usually challenging to determine the exact cause and effect relationship in psychological and sociological research. However, research into the leading factors and implementation of relevant measures in this regard are achievable. In addition, the course of action can be adjusted at any stage. These obstacles are inevitable since the addiction mechanism is generally self-sustaining. For this reason, additional supportive measures should be implemented in conjunction with research efforts.
Benefits of an Integrated Approach
It should be emphasized that both directions of the CIAP, including research on root causes and symptom mitigating methods, are essential for the successful elimination of addiction, as each of them solves its specific problem. According to Billieux et al., cellphone addiction “is generally conceptualized as a behavioral addiction including the core components of addictive behaviors, such as cognitive salience, loss of control, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse” (157). Accordingly, each of these addiction features has to be addressed especially. For example, cognitive salience and conflict require psychological intervention, while mood modification and withdrawal may be coped with by active social life engagement.
The integrated approach, which involves dealing with both root problems and symptoms, should also be personalized. Depending on the characteristics of a particular individual, cellphone addiction can vary greatly. For this reason, a valid and available instrument to measure the degree of addiction severity is required when designing a set of measures to assist a particular person. Researchers point out that Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale (MPPUS) is one of the most reliable and widespread measurement tools based on addiction literature (Goswami and Singh 70). It is “a unifactorial 27-item questionnaire, which covers issues such as tolerance, withdrawals, escape from other problems, craving and negative consequences upon daily life (at social, familial, professional and financial levels)” (Goswami and Singh 70). MPPUS can be used to determine the most effective methods for each particular case.
Conclusion
It may be concluded that CIAP consists of two sets of methods, each of which is essential for effective problem-solving. Research efforts are needed to construct and test hypotheses concerning the root causes of addiction and to develop a logically consistent theory of its occurrence. Cellphone use is not a negative factor in itself and only becomes an addiction due to specific root problems that stand behind it. These may include social anxiety, depression, and impulse control deficit. Therefore, additional research should be conducted to detect these root factors and resolve them. A group of measures aimed at alleviating the symptoms is aimed at helping people who are currently addicted. Entertainment and sports activities will encourage addicts to become more engaged in active social life, and the mobile application will provide reliable data on addictive behavior. Thus, this program, based on the integrated approach, proposes an effective solution to the problem.
Works Cited
Primary Sources
Billieux, Joel, et al. “Can Disordered Mobile Phone Use Be Considered a Behavioral Addiction? An Update on Current Evidence and a Comprehensive Model for Future Research.” Current Addiction Reports, vol. 2, no. 2, 2015, pp. 156-162.
Goswami, Vandana, and Divya Rani Singh. “Impact of Mobile Phone Addiction on Adolescent’s Life: A Literature Review.” International Journal of Home Science, vol. 2, no. 1, 2016, pp. 69-74.
Other Sources
Fuster, Hector, et al. “Fear of Missing Out, Online Social Networking and Mobile Phone Addiction: A Latent Profile Approach.” Aloma: Revista de Psicologia, Ciències de l’Educació i de l’Esport, vol. 35, no.1, 2017, pp. 23-30.
Kuhdasht, Reza, et al. “The Relationship Between Phone Dependency with Psychological Disorders and Academic Burnout in Students.” Journal of Research and Health, vol. 8, no. 2, 2018, pp. 189-195.
Mohammadbeigi, Abolfazl, et al. “Sleep Quality in Medical Students; the Impact of Over-Use of Mobile Cellphone and Social Networks.” Journal of Research in Health Sciences, vol. 16, no. 1, 2016, pp. 46-50, Web.
Samaha, Maya, and Nazir S. Hawi. “Relationships among Smartphone Addiction, Stress, Academic Performance, and Satisfaction with Life.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 57, 2016, pp. 321-325.
Sapacz, M. “Are We Addicted to Our Cell Phones?” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 57, 2016, pp. 153-159, Web.