This Scientific Test Will Tell You How Addicted You Are To Your Smartphone 

Smartphone addiction isno joke, and now there's a scientific way to measure it.

A new study fromIowa State University hasidentified some of the central aspects of nomophobia that's "no mobilephone" phobia with a handy new 20-question survey measuring iPhonecodependence. 

"Nomophobia is considered a modernage phobia introduced to our lives as a byproduct of the interaction betweenpeople and mobile information and communication technologies, especiallysmartphones," Caglar Yildirim, one of the study's authors, mentioned in anemail. "It refers to fear of not being able to use a smartphone ... [and]it refers to the fear of not being able to communicate, losing theconnectedness that smartphones allow, not being able to access informationthrough smartphones, and giving up the convenience that smartphonesprovide."

The researchbuilds on a University of Missouri study published in January which found thatbring separated from your iPhone can have a real psychological andphysiological effect, including impaired thinking.

"iPhonesare capable of becoming an extension of our selves such that when separated, weexperience a lessening of 'self' and a negative physiological state,"Russell Clayton, a doctoral candidate and the study's lead author, said in astatement

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To develop the questionnaire, the Iowaresearchers interviewed nine undergraduate students about their relationshipswith their smartphones, identifying four basic dimensions of nomophobia: notbeing able to communicate, losing connectedness, not being able to accessinformation and giving up convenience. Then, they tested the questionnaire on301 undergraduate students.

Are you a smartphone junkie?Rate each item on a scale of 1 ("completely disagree") to 7("strongly agree") and tally up your total score to find out. Behonest!

1. I would feel uncomfortable without constant access toinformation through my smartphone.

2. I would be annoyed if I could not look information up on mysmartphone when I wanted to do so.

3. Being unable to get the news (e.g., happenings, weather,etc.) on my smartphone would make me nervous.

4. I would be annoyed if I could not use my smartphone and/orits capabilities when I wanted to do so.

5. Running out of battery in my smartphone would scare me.

6. If I were to run out of credits or hit my monthly datalimit, I would panic.

7. If I did not have a data signal or could not connect toWi-Fi, then I would constantly check to see if I had a signal or could find aWi-Fi network.

8. If I could not use my smartphone, I would be afraid ofgetting stranded somewhere.

9. If I could not check my smartphone for a while, I would feela desire to check it.

If I did not have my smartphone with me ...

10. I would feel anxious because I could not instantlycommunicate with my family and/or friends.

11. I would be worried because my family and/or friends couldnot reach me.

12. I would feel nervous because I would not be able to receivetext messages and calls.

13. I would be anxious because I could not keep in touch with myfamily and/or friends.

14. I would be nervous because I could not know if someone hadtried to get a hold of me.

15. I would feel anxious because my constant connection to myfamily and friends would be broken.

16. I would be nervous because I would be disconnected from myonline identity.

17. I would be uncomfortable because I could not stay up-to-datewith social media and online networks.

18. I would feel awkward because I could not check mynotifications for ｕpdates from my connections and online networks.

19. I would feel anxious because I could not check my emailmessages.

20. I would feel weird because I would not know what to do.

How You Score:

20: Not at all nomophobic. You have a very healthy relationshipwith your device and have no problem being separated from it. 

21-60: Mild nomophobia. You geta little antsy when you forget your phone at home for a day or get stucksomewhere without WiFi, but the anxiety isn't too overwhelming. 

61-100: Moderate nomophobia. You're pretty attached to your device.You often check for ｕpdates while you're walking down the street or talking toa friend, and you often feel anxious when you're disconnected. Time for adigital detox? 

101-120: Severe nomophobia. You can barely go for 60 secondswithout checking your phone. It's the first thing you check in the morning andthe last at night, and dominates most of your activities in-between. Itmight be time for a serious intervention.

Article Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/18/nomophobia-smartphone-sep_n_7266468.html?ir=Science

Image Sourcehttp://bookrockbetty.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/url-3.jpeg?w=300

VOCABULARY WORDS:

1. Impaired (adj.) ~ weakened or damaged 

2. Constant (n.) ~ a situation that does not change 

3. Anxious (adj.) ~ experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness 

4. Antsy (adj.) ~ impatient or restless 

5. Detox (v.) ~ abstain from or rid the body of toxic or unhealthysubstance  

6. Intervention (n.) ~ action taken to improve a situation 

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:

1. Let’squickly answer the test and find out if you are addicted to your smartphone. 

2. Howdoes smartphone addiction affect a person’s state of mind?  

3. Issmartphone addiction a social problem in your ｃountry? Explain your answer.