The experiment involved 237 participants aged 18 to 35.
Researchers have concluded that even a short-term refusal of a smartphone can positively affect well-being and the subjective feeling of happiness. This is reported by Communication Research.
In the course of the study, scientists examined the everyday behavior of people without imposing strict prohibitions on the use of digital devices. The experiment involved 237 participants aged 18 to 35. For two weeks, they regularly recorded how they interacted with smartphones and other gadgets, as well as assessed their mood, energy level, and stress degree. In total, the specialists analyzed more than 12,000 individual observations.
The data obtained showed that at those moments when participants consciously took breaks from consuming digital content — putting down their phones, turning off notifications, or switching to airplane mode — they felt a greater surge of energy and more often felt engaged in live communication. However, the effect was short-lived and typically faded after two to three hours. Researchers did not find a significant connection between digital "detox" and reduced stress.
As the authors note, the factor of voluntariness played a key role. When the decision to limit gadget use was made independently, the positive influence on emotional state was stronger. At the same time, forced restrictions related to rules or external circumstances could, on the contrary, worsen well-being.
