Smartphone addiction is more prevalent among men and parents with many children, China study says
- Research looks at Beijing residents in various age groups with differing educational backgrounds and income
- Smartphone addiction is defined as phone use that is stressful, sometimes leading to anxiety and depression
Addiction is an age old problem, but having trouble peeling yourself away from your smartphone is a uniquely 21st century headache. And it turns out that just how badly a person is hooked on their mobile devices could be related to sex, income and education.
Male Beijingers are more prone to suffering from mobile phone addiction than females, according to the latest issue of the Blue Book of Beijing Social Mentality, an annual study published by the Social Sciences Academic Press (China).
Phone use generally becomes an addiction when it turns stressful for the user, researchers previously said. At its worst, symptoms can include anxiety and depression.
The new study found that the difference in addiction between the two sexes was small. But separate studies on other populations have produced opposing results. Still, these latest results kicked off a heated online debate in China.
“Mothers take care of the children while fathers lie down with their phones,” reads one of the top Weibo comments from someone attempting to explain the results.
