Understanding Digital Disconnection in Terms of Death Anxiety

David Harley

Understanding Digital Disconnection in Terms of Death Anxiety

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

Abstract

This study considers whether being ‘digitally disconnected’ provokes death anxiety amongst smartphone users. Through a controlled experiment the reactions of disconnected smartphone users were assessed in terms of death thought accessibility, levels of shyness and sociability. Results showed that death thoughts increased with disconnection when the smartphone’s importance to self-esteem was taken into account. Shyness increased with digital disconnection but sociability was unaffected. The implications of how this reframes our understanding of digital addiction are discussed.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 26 Jun 2019
Event	24th Annual CyberPsychology, CyberTherapy & Social Networking Conference - Norfolk State University (NSU), Norfolk, United States Duration: 24 Jun 2019 → 26 Jun 2019

Conference

Conference	24th Annual CyberPsychology, CyberTherapy & Social Networking Conference
Country/Territory	United States
City	Norfolk
Period	24/06/19 → 26/06/19

Keywords

Smartphone dependency
death anxiety
digital disconnection
shyness
sociability

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Digitally Disconnection Harley2Final published version, 113 KB

David Harley
- D.A.Harleybrighton.acuk
- School of Humanities and Social Science - Subject Lead Psychology and Counselling, Principal Lecturer
Person: Academic

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AB - This study considers whether being ‘digitally disconnected’ provokes death anxiety amongst smartphone users. Through a controlled experiment the reactions of disconnected smartphone users were assessed in terms of death thought accessibility, levels of shyness and sociability. Results showed that death thoughts increased with disconnection when the smartphone’s importance to self-esteem was taken into account. Shyness increased with digital disconnection but sociability was unaffected. The implications of how this reframes our understanding of digital addiction are discussed.

KW - Smartphone dependency

KW - death anxiety

KW - digital disconnection

KW - shyness

KW - sociability

M3 - Paper

T2 - 24th Annual CyberPsychology, CyberTherapy & Social Networking Conference

Y2 - 24 June 2019 through 26 June 2019

ER -

Understanding Digital Disconnection in Terms of Death Anxiety

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

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David Harley

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