1. Running Head: SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE 1
The Social Impact of Excessive Cell Phone use on Adolescents
Jessica C S Madisetti
Kennesaw State University
Author note
Correspondence concerting this article should be addressed to, Department of Psychology,
Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Email:
jmadiset@students.kennesaw.edu

2. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 2

3. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 3
The Social Impact of Excessive Cell Phone Use on Adolescents
Through the observation of modern society, it is evident that there is a positive
correlation between the development of technology and the access that adolescents have to
communicative devices enabling them to send information across wireless networks. The most
popular of these devices among young adults is the handheld cell phone. A previous study by the
Pew Research Center at Berkman University demonstrates that teenagers’ access to cellphones
has been increasing at a steady rate since 2003 and 95% of teenagers in America are now
connected online (Madden, Lenhart, Duggan, Cortesi, & Gasser, 2013). The relationship
between different methods of communication and the level of loneliness or social anxiety have
been explored in the past; Jin and Park measured a wide array of demographics using survey
techniques. Through critical analysis, it was concluded that those who reported very frequent
voice calling felt lonelier. The same study also reflects a negative correlation between social
skills and the use of cell phones; as usage increases, social skills apparently decline. This was
noted to be a predecessor for the development of conditions such as social anxiety and loneliness
(Jin & Park, 2013). An observation made of those with social anxiety or chronic shyness reflects
the idea that texting is preferred by those pre-diagnosed with the condition because it is a less
stressful interaction that speaking in person (Reid & Reid, 2007). This study ties in to Jin and
Park (2013) as the reoccurring theme of cell phone usage becoming an enabler is prevalent.
The previous studies were made on fully developed adults with very established
relationships and social lives. The current study will explore youth between the ages of 14 and
19 as these years serve as peak times for development socially and cognitively. This will allow a
first-hand demonstration on the effect that cellphone usage has on the forming psyche by
observing the participants method of coping with the way of communication they are given. The

4. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 4
study will explore the relationship between excessive texting and calling and a more anxious
face-to-face experience.
Method
Participants
Fifty male and 50 female high school students (Mean age: 16.04, SD= 1.61 years)
voluntarily participated in a survey about the impact of cell phone use on relationships via
computer after being told about it at school. After having read and having signed a consent form
that was sent home to their parents about the use of their information, the participants were asked
a series of questions about their average cell phone usage. Parents willing to let their child
participate were asked to provide a phone number so that if their child was chosen for the
experiment, contact could be established. The sample consisted of 62 Caucasian American
participants, 20 African American participants, 10 Hispanic participants, 4 Asian participants,
and 4 who classified as “other”. There was a total of 72 females and 27 males. The data collected
was then observed to find suitable subjects for the experiment. Of the participants, 12 were
chosen; 6 male and 6 female. The sample consisted of 5 Caucasian participants, 4 African
American participants, and 3 Hispanic participants. All of these reported using their cell phones
either excessively or very little. A call was made home to the parents of these participants
revealing the fact that their child’s phone usage would need to be altered for 12 days in order for
the experiment to work. They were given the opportunity to end the experiment at any time if
they felt uncomfortable.
Stimuli
The premise of the experiment is to take those who use their cellphones excessively and
only allow them to communicate with those around them using face to face interaction. The

5. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 5
opposite will be done to those who use the cellphone very little or not at all. After the initial
survey, they will be screened individually to see how they react to a potentially anxious situation,
then predictions will be made about them for the remainder of the experiment. After
experiencing 12 days going the with or without a phone to communicate, they will complete one
more written questionnaire about their levels of anxiety in different social situations using a
Generalized Anxiety Disorder test developed by the Anxiety and Depression Association of
America (Madden et. Al., 2013).
Procedure
Once chosen, the participants were put into an interview situation that could potentially
evoke a slight feeling of anxiety. The interview was done exactly the same for each subject. They
were put alone in well-light room at the end of a long table. The walls were covered in posters of
small cute animals to serve as a contrast to the interviewer, being a tall, pale man with dark eyes
and a stern grimace sitting at the other end of the table in a business suit. The interview lasted a
total of 15 minutes, and each participant was asked a set list of questions about their relationships
along with a few random questions to catch them off guard. For every third relationship question,
there was a random question. There was a total of 30 questions. After each question, the
interviewer would note the subjects’ physical reactions, more notably the amount they fidget in
accordance GAD-7 scale. This information was then used to form predictions about each
participant’s level of general anxiety going into the experiment.
The participants who used their phones for a total of more than 5 hours a day then had
them confiscated and those who used them very little were given new phones. For the next 12
days, the participants lived at the facility with adequate accommodations. Those with phones

6. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 6
were unable to see or speak to anyone else in the facility, and had to text to receive food and
anything else they required. They were allowed to contact a grand total of 12 people using their
phones. This could be family, friends or both. The participants without phones were given the
same accommodations but were allowed to intermingle freely, to leave their room, and to have
one visit from family per 6 days, however, they were not informed of when their families would
come. Those on the outside in contact were given guidelines on what they could and could not
speak out. They were encouraged to keep conversation light and as happy as possible, and not to
talk about anything stressful. After the twelve days, the participants were given an anxiety test to
see what their levels of anxiety were. These were measured against their reactions from the
initial interview to form the results.
Result
A t-test made of the results demonstrate a rejection of the null hypothesis with an F score
of .379. The mean anxiety score of those participants with phones is 7.1167 with a standard
deviation of approximately 1.75 while those without phones had a mean of 21.5 and a standard
deviation of 1.45.
Experiment Two: The effect of Isolation on Anxiety
In order to further these results, another experiment was made to test the effect of this
social isolation on anxiety levels. The experiment allows the sample to experience both the social
isolation and the face-to-face interaction. Tests were taken after they experienced each condition
to measure how much of an effect this type of isolation has on their general anxiety.
Method

7. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 7
Participants
Fifty male and 50 female high school students (Mean age: 16.04, SD= 1.61 years)
voluntarily participated in a survey about the impact of cell phone use on relationships via
computer after being told about it at school. After having read and having signed a consent form
that was sent home to their parents about the use of their information, the participants were asked
a series of questions about their average cell phone usage. Parents willing to let their child
participate were asked to provide a phone number so that if their child was chosen for the
experiment, contact could be established. The sample consisted of 62 Caucasian American
participants, 20 African American participants, 10 Hispanic participants, 4 Asian participants, and
4 who classified as “other”. There was a total of 72 females and 27 males. The data collected was
then observed to find suitable subjects for the experiment. Of the participants, 12 were chosen; 6
male and 6 female. The sample consisted of 5 Caucasian participants, 4 African American
participants, and 3 Hispanic participants. All of these reported using their cell phones either
excessively or very little.
Stimuli
The premise of this experiment remains the same as the previous; to test anxiety after
experiencing either only face-to-face interaction or cell phone communication only. Once the
initial survey is completed, the group will be put into their first condition- without. They will go
12 days without a phone to communicate and be able to talk to only each other. They will
complete one more written questionnaire about their levels of anxiety in different social
situations using a Generalized Anxiety Disorder test developed by the Anxiety and Depression
Association of America. After a rest period of weekend, they will be put into isolation where

8. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 8
they can only communicate using their phones. These conditions are the same as the previous
experiment.
Procedure
Once chosen, the participants were put into an interview situation that could potentially
evoke a slight feeling of anxiety. The interview was done exactly the same for each subject. They
were put alone in well-light room at the end of a long table. The walls were covered in posters of
small cute animals to serve as a contrast to the interviewer, being a tall, pale man with dark eyes
and a stern grimace sitting at the other end of the table in a business suit. The interview lasted a
total of 15 minutes, and each participant was asked a set list of questions about their relationships
along with a few random questions to catch them off guard. For every third relationship question,
there was a random question. There was a total of 30 questions. After each question, the
interviewer would note the subjects’ physical reactions, more notably the amount they fidget in
accordance GAD-7 scale.
For the next 12 days, the participants lived at the facility with adequate accommodations.
The group was allowed to intermingle freely, to leave their room, and to have one visit from
family per 6 days, however, were not informed of when their families would come. They were
monitored using a detached approach to ensure that everything was going well. After the 12
days, they were given a self-reported questionnaire about their anxieties. After two days rest in
their own environments (at home, or wherever they live), the same group was then confined to
cell-phone use. They were unable to see or speak to anyone else in the facility, and had to text to
receive food and anything else they required. They were allowed to contact a grand total of 12
people using their phones. This could be family, friends or both. Those on the outside in contact

9. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 9
were given guidelines on what they could and could not speak of. They were encouraged to keep
conversation light and as happy as possible, and not to talk about anything stressful. After the
twelve days, the participants were given an anxiety test to see what their levels of anxiety were.
These were measured against their reactions from the initial interview to form the results.
Result
A paired t-test made of the results demonstrate that there was a fairly significant increase
in anxiety over the course of the experiment. The mean anxiety rating after the first trial was
12.3958 with a deviation of 8.12 while after the second 14.3083 with a deviation of 7.67. The
test statistic score was 5.833 and the p<.05, making the results more extreme than the cut off
value and rejecting the null-hypothesis.

10. SOCIAL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE CELL PHONE USE ON ADOLESCENTS 10
References
Donna J. Reid and Fraser J.M. Reid. (2007). Text or Talk? Social Anxiety, Loneliness, and
Divergent Preferences for Cell Phone Use. Cyber Psychology & Behavior, 10(3): 424-
435. doi:10.1089/cpb.2006.9936.
Jin, B. and Park, N. (2013). Mobile voice communication and loneliness: Cell phone use and the
social skills deficit hypothesis. New Media & Society, 15(7), 1094-1111.
doi:10.1177/146144481266715.
Madden, Mary, Lenhart, A, Duggan, M., Cortesi, S., & Gasser, Urs. (2013). Teens and
Technology 2013. Pew Research Center.http://www.pewinternet.org/files/old-
media/Files/Reports/2013/PIP_TeensandTechnology2013.pdf
Zilberstein, Karen. (2013). Technology, Relationship and Culture: Clinical and Theoretical
Implications. Clinical Social Work Journal, 41(3). doi:10.1007/s10615-013-0461-2.