imageExcessiveness of anything is bad for you, and that goes with the use of smartphones as well. For all the smartphone addicts out there, too much use of digital technology may develop ADHD, says a study.

According to DNA India, the study was of the view, "With the internet in their pockets, people today are bombarded with notifications - whether from email, text messaging, social media or news apps - anywhere they go," said lead researcher Kostadin Kushlev.

"We are seeking to better understand how this constant inflow of notifications influences our minds," added Kushlev.

As per the study, 221 students at University of British Columbia in Canada were assigned a target to maximise phone interruptions for one week by keeping notification alerts on, and their phones within easy reach.

The results revealed that as many as 95 percent of smartphone users have used their phones during social gatherings; whereas, seven in 10 people used their phones while working, said Kushlev. On average smartphone owners spend almost two hours a day using their phones, he added.

Analyzing the results, "We found the first experimental evidence that smartphone interruptions can cause greater inattention and hyperactivity - symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - even in people drawn from a nonclinical population," said Kushlev.

As per Times of India, the results suggest that even people who have not been diagnosed with ADHD may experience some of the disorder's symptoms, which includes distraction, difficulty focusing and getting bored easily when trying to focus, fidgeting, having trouble sitting still, difficulty doing quiet tasks and activities, and restlessness.

"Smartphones may contribute to these symptoms by serving as a quick and easy source of distraction," Kushlev said.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2016

Comments

Comments are closed.