International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK.
Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jul 5;17(13):4842. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17134842.
Evidence suggests a growing call for the prevention of excessive smartphone and social media use and the ensuing distraction that arises affecting academic achievement and productivity. A ten-day online randomized controlled trial with the use of smartphone apps, engaging participants in mindfulness exercises, self-monitoring and mood tracking, was implemented amongst UK university students ( = 143). Participants were asked to complete online pre- and post-intervention assessments. Results indicated high effect sizes in reduction of smartphone distraction and improvement scores on a number of self-reported secondary psychological outcomes. The intervention was not effective in reducing habitual behaviours, nomophobia, or time spent on social media. Mediation analyses demonstrated that: (i) emotional self-awareness but not mindful attention mediated the relationship between intervention effects and smartphone distraction, and (ii) online vigilance mediated the relationship between smartphone distraction and problematic social media use. The present study provides preliminary evidence of the efficacy of an intervention for decreased smartphone distraction and highlights psychological processes involved in this emergent phenomenon in the smartphone literature. Online interventions may serve as complementary strategies to reduce distraction levels and promote insight into online engagement. More research is required to elucidate the mechanisms of digital distraction and assess its implications in problematic use.
有证据表明，人们越来越呼吁预防过度使用智能手机和社交媒体，以及由此产生的影响学业成绩和生产力的分心。在英国大学生中进行了一项为期十天的在线随机对照试验，使用智能手机应用程序让参与者进行正念练习、自我监测和情绪跟踪（n = 143）。要求参与者完成在线干预前后评估。结果表明，在减少智能手机分心和提高多项自我报告的次要心理结果方面，效果显著。该干预措施在减少习惯性行为、无手机恐惧症或在社交媒体上花费的时间方面无效。中介分析表明：（i）情绪自我意识而不是正念注意力中介了干预效果和智能手机分心之间的关系，以及（ii）在线警觉性中介了智能手机分心和有问题的社交媒体使用之间的关系。本研究初步证明了干预措施减少智能手机分心的有效性，并强调了智能手机文献中这一新兴现象所涉及的心理过程。在线干预措施可能是减少分心水平和促进对在线参与的洞察的补充策略。需要进一步的研究来阐明数字分心的机制，并评估其在有问题的使用中的影响。
