Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Mental Health
Date Submitted: Jun 19, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Jun 21, 2024 - Aug 16, 2024
Date Accepted: Jan 17, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Unveiling the Digital Dilemma: Understanding Problematic Smartphone and Social Media Usage among Adults in France
ABSTRACT
Background:
The EVADD study (EVAluation of Digital aDdiction) investigates problematic smartphone use in the digital age, as global users hit 55.88 million in 2023.
Objective:
It focuses on increased screen time from digital devices, especially smartphones, highlighting adult usage issues.
Methods:
Employing a cross-sectional, non-probability sample design, the EVADD study was conducted from May 3rd to June 5th, 2023 and utilized the Smartphone Compulsive Use Test to assess participants' compulsive smartphone use. Participants were recruited through the French mutual insurance company PRO-BTP. Anonymously collected data encompassed social network engagement, electronic device ownership, and daily leisure time spent on devices through an online questionnaire.
Results:
In a study with 21,244 respondents (average age 53, 48% women), most were retirees or employees, predominantly married or in a couple, with over half owning 2 or 3 devices, primarily smartphones and laptops. A significant 70% considered smartphones indispensable. The Smartphone Compulsion Test revealed 66.7% exhibited compulsive use, and 38% showed clear addiction signs, especially younger participants. Leisure time on screens averaged 1-2 hours, with notable habits like using smartphones in the bathroom (36%) and before sleep (43%). Problematic behaviors included unsafe driving and high engagement with social networks, particularly Facebook, without active participation.
Conclusions:
The EVADD study illuminates the complex relationship between adults and smartphones, underscoring the risks of excessive use. It reveals how these behaviors affect daily life, sleep patterns, and driving safety. While identifying a spectrum of social network use from habitual to potentially addictive, the study aims to inform preventive strategies and therapeutic interventions rather than pathologize everyday activities. Ultimately, it advocates for heightened awareness and education to mitigate health risks associated with problematic smartphone usage.
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Copyright
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