Cell Phone Addiction, Anxiety, and Willingness to Communicate in Face-to-Face Encounters

Abstract

The permeation of cell phone technology continues to alter human behavior by changing the way individuals communicate with both physically distant and co-present others. Despite their numerous communicative affordances, past research suggests potential negative effects when cell phones are over-used. Results from an online survey (N = 498) indicate that cell phone addiction was positively associated with experiences of anxiety. Anxiety, in turn, was negatively associated with willingness to engage in face-to-face communication. These findings suggest cell phones serve to improve communication with distant others while also posing a potential threat to the quality of communication with co-present others.