Study Reveals How Nature Can Reduce Smartphone Addiction
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Study Using Geolocation Data: Unlike previous studies that relied on self-reports, this study utilized geolocation data to determine whether people were actually in green spaces.
- Nature’s Positive Impact on Well-Being: Nature exposure has been consistently associated with various positive effects on well-being, including reduced stress, improved mood, and enhanced cognitive function.
- Exploring the Nature-Smartphone Use Relationship: Previous research has suggested that spending time in nature is linked to reduced screen time and decreased smartphone use.
- Comprehensive Study Using Mobile Screen Data: The study involved 701 young adults, primarily undergraduate students in Denmark, equipped with smartphones and an app that recorded their smartphone usage and location over a two-year period.
- Findings and Implications: The study found that young adults who spent more time in green spaces had lower smartphone usage, suggesting that being in nature may protect young adults from excessive smartphone use.
New study recently published in the journal Environment and Behavior delved into the connection between spending time in green spaces and smartphone addiction.
Unlike previous studies that relied on participants’ self-reports, this study took advantage of geolocation data to determine if people were actually in green spaces.
The findings indicated that individuals who spent more time in green spaces tended to use their smartphones less.
Excessive smartphone use has been linked to negative outcomes such as shorter attention spans, impaired thinking, and reduced well-being.
This has sparked interest in understanding the factors that influence smartphone use and finding ways to develop healthier technology habits.
Numerous studies have consistently demonstrated the positive effects of being in nature on our overall well-being.
Nature exposure can help reduce stress, improve mood, enhance cognitive function, and generally make us feel better.
Spending More Time in Green Spaces Reduces Phone Use Among Young Adults
These findings have led to the development of the Attention Restoration Theory (ART). This which suggests that nature can restore our attention after dealing with the demands of daily life, including smartphone use.
While the individual benefits of nature exposure and the detrimental effects of excessive smartphone use are well-documented, their relationship with each other remains relatively unexplored.
Exploring how exposure to green spaces may influence smartphone use is crucial. This is for promoting a healthy balance between technology engagement and nature.
Previous studies have provided some insights into this relationship. For example, research has shown that individuals who spend more time in nature tend to engage in less screen time overall.
This include smartphone use. Moreover, studies have found that nature exposure can reduce the desire to use smartphones. Also, it decreases the frequency of checking mobile devices.
However, most of these studies relied on self-reported measures, which may be biased and inaccurate.
To overcome these limitations, Kelton Minor and colleagues aimed to provide a more objective and comprehensive examination. That is into the relationship between green space exposure and smartphone use among young adults.
By using mobile screen activity and geolocation data, the researchers could capture real-time patterns of smartphone usage. Also, they can accurately measure the time spent in green spaces.
The study involved 701 young adults, primarily undergraduate students in Denmark. The participants were provided with smartphones equipped with an app that recorded their smartphone usage.
It also recorded their location and mobility over a two-year period. The data collection was done with the participants’ consent, and they had control over accessing and deleting their own data.
Using this data, the researchers analyzed the relationship between smartphone use and exposure to natural environments.
Link Between Green Spaces and Decreased Smartphone Usage
They categorized locations into two main contexts: green spaces such as parks and nature reserves, and urban environments.
Geolocation data and land cover maps were used to determine the participants’ whereabouts during 15-minute intervals.
Within each 15-minute interval, the researchers measured three aspects of smartphone use: screen time, texting, and phone calls.
They focused on outgoing communication activities to understand how environmental exposures influenced participants’ digital behaviors.
The study findings revealed that young adults who spent more time in green spaces had lower smartphone usage. This suggests that being in green spaces may protect young adults from excessive smartphone use.
On the other hand, outgoing smartphone communication, such as texting and calling, increased in recreational areas. That is areas like parks and urban areas for visits shorter than two hours.
Lead author Kelton Minor, a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University’s Data Science Institute, explained, “Greentime, or time outdoors, has long been recommended as a way to restore our attention from the demands of daily life, yet before our study, little was known about whether nature provides a way for people to disconnect from the mobile devices that now follow us into the great outdoors.”
He further added, “While past research suggested that short trips to city parks might provide a digital detox, we saw texting and phone calls actually go up.
It was really the longer visits to wilder areas, like forests or nature preserves, that helped people get off their screens and wrest back their attention from their smartphones.
Here are some additional related findings:
- Relationship between Nature Exposure and Psychological Well-being. Previous research has established a positive association between spending time in nature and psychological well-being.
Studies have shown that nature exposure can lead to decreased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, while promoting feelings of calmness, relaxation, and improved mood.
These psychological benefits may contribute to reduced smartphone use as individuals seek alternative ways to cope with stress and enhance their well-being.
- Green Spaces and Cognitive Restoration: Research has demonstrated that being in green spaces can enhance cognitive functioning and restoration.
Natural environments provide a respite from the cognitive demands and distractions of technology, allowing individuals to recharge their mental resources.
By engaging with nature, individuals may experience improved attention, concentration and cognitive performance. Theseh could contribute to decreased reliance on smartphones.
Nature as a Social Setting
Green spaces often serve as social settings, providing opportunities for face-to-face interactions and social connections.
Engaging in social activities and interactions with others in natural environments may reduce the need for smartphone use as a means of social connection.
The presence of social support and companionship in green spaces may offer alternative avenues for engagement, reducing the dependence on digital communication through smartphones.
Environmental Awareness and Engagement: Spending time in green spaces can foster a greater sense of environmental awareness and appreciation.
Research has shown that individuals who feel connected to nature are more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviors. Also, exhibit a sense of responsibility toward the environment.
This heightened environmental consciousness may lead to reduced smartphone use, as individuals prioritize connecting with nature and valuing the present moment over excessive screen time.
Nature-Based Activities and Distraction: Engaging in nature-based activities, such as hiking, gardening, or birdwatching, can offer immersive and engaging experiences that divert attention away from smartphones.
These activities provide opportunities for active involvement, exploration and sensory stimulation. This may replace the passive and sedentary behavior associated with smartphone use.
The fulfillment derived from nature-based activities may reduce the desire to constantly engage with smartphones.
These additional findings highlight the multifaceted nature of the relationship between green space exposure and smartphone use.
They suggest that the psychological, cognitive social and environmental aspects of spending time in nature. This contributes to reduction in smartphone use and promote a healthier balance between technology and nature engagement.