Tethered to texting: Reliance on texting and emotional attachment to cell phones

• Published in: Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.) N.J.), 2021-01, Vol.40 (1), p.1-8
• Main Authors: Holte, Alex J., Richard Ferraro, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Attachment behavior; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Cellular telephones; Psychological aspects; Psychology; Social aspects; Social Sciences; Text messaging
• ISSN: 1046-1310; 1936-4733
• DOI: 10.1007/s12144-018-0037-y

Due to the ubiquity of cell phones, a myriad of studies have been conducted relating to human interaction with the devices. Though prior studies have indicated individuals have behavioral and physiological anxiety when separated from their phone, previous studies have not examined participants rating their relationship to their phone with intimate words reserved for close relationships. We had 175 students from a Midwestern university in the United States complete the Self-Perception of Text-Message Dependence Scale (SPTMDS) and the Emotional Attachment Scale. All four subscales of the SPTMDS (emotional reaction, excessive use, relationship maintenance, and psychological/behavioral symptoms) were significantly and positively correlated with emotional attachment. In addition, emotional attachment, age, and gender explained 22.8% of variance of the texting reliance scores. How an individual feels toward their phone appears to relate to how reliant an individual is on texting in their day-to-day lives. Implications for future studies are discussed.