Analyzing Smartphone Separation vs. Restriction on Users’ Well-Being During a Pandemic

Smartphones have become an integral part of our lives providing us with a variety of functions. The study cuts off users’ constant usage to analyze the effects of smartphone withdrawal. In an experimental 48-h study, participants were either instructed to separate from their phones (N = 33) or to limit their daily phone use to three hours (N = 34), while a control group (N = 28) used their phones regularly. All participants assessed their well-being daily. Statistical analyses revealed that separated participants reported an increase in positive affect over time. Contrary to the predictions, restricted users did not report an increase in subjective well-being over time compared to the other groups. In sum, the findings support the idea of phone withdrawal as a methodologically promising approach to better understanding the psychological and social functions of smartphones. Practical implications are discussed and ideas for future research are presented regarding further differentiation of phone withdrawal and influencing factors of users’ well-being.