How do people cope with smartphone distractions at work and in private life?

People today are exposed to a greater technological burden than in the past. Numerous information and communication technologies (ICTs) have penetrated everyday life. The smartphone usage particularly continues to increase. This change leads to problematic developments, such as technostress and internet addiction. This study employs William Stephenson’s Q-methodology and investigates 28 personal viewpoints of smartphone users. The research analyzes their smartphone use and coping behavior. With the employment of Q-methodological approach this study examines the shared viewpoints among individuals. Based on the personal views and evaluation of these, four different smartphone user types are identified: Bystanders, Addicts, Moderates, and Struggling integrators. These types have different characteristics in smartphone use, handling of smartphone and coping behavior. This study shows that internet addiction has three determinants: impulsiveness, anxiety, and habit. Different levels of impulsiveness personality traits are decisive when it comes to internet addiction. In addition, the level of impulsiveness regulates anxiety, as low impulsiveness leads to higher levels of control. Anxiety is also a contributing factor to internet addiction. Furthermore, anxiety results in higher levels of stress resistance. The last determinant, habit, in combination with technology use, promotes internet addiction and less interest in harms. Thus, high levels of internet addiction, lead to negative consequences that affect one’s effectiveness, health, happiness, and relationships. This study provides a link between different research areas by creating a framework that combines technostress, internet addiction and coping theory.
Author Hoang Tung Dinh
Masterarbeit Universität Innsbruck 2022