An escalating divorce rate, high blood pressure, headaches, insomnia and anxiety - some might blame their high-pressure jobs... I blame the smartphone.
It all boils down to one thing - dependence.
It's always nice to have a scapegoat, especially when that goat is inanimate and cannot defend itself. And, thanks to a new study by some of the erudite folk at the University of Texas at Arlington, this seemingly odd and unreasonable one somehow feels perfectly justified.
The recently published - and aptly entitled - study: "Hot buttons and time sinks: The effects of electronic communication during non-work time on emotions and work-non-work conflict", reveals anger is triggered in employees when receiving after-hours e-mail and texts.
Needless to say, this interferes with personal lives.
Not that this is anything new or surprising - the US researchers' report just adds to the annals of similar studies that have been undertaken over the past few years. In retrospect, it's probably a notion that has been a reality since the smartphone craze started snowballing after BlackBerry launched the Curve in 2009.
It all boils down to one thing - dependence. The extent differs, as do the different guises, but the fact is we are living in an era in which social and professional behaviour is changing, along with what is and is not acceptable. We are living in an era in which the line between work time and personal time is wispy at best.
It's the era of the smartphone and it is characterised by a complete and drastic change in the way we use the gadgets once regarded as crucial communications tools for making important phone calls or sending the odd SMS.
Telestress theory
In line with the work/personal life blur, I recently happened upon a new smartphone-inspired term that is already being used - at least by the shrink community - as if it's a thing. Apparently, because it is.
Telepressure, according to the Northern Illinois University psychology researchers who coined the term, is an urge to quickly respond to e-mails, texts and voicemails - regardless of whatever else is happening or whether one is even at work.
The university has published an 18-page thesis on this concept, complete with a "workplace telepressure measure" that classifies behaviours into preoccupation and urge when it comes to using message-based technology for work purposes.
As much as I have always regarded myself as maintaining a reasonably healthy balance between work and home life, if my smartphone could, it would beg to differ. Out of the eight questions outlined in the telepressure measure, I highly agreed with all eight.
Yes, I am concerned about keeping fast response times and I find it hard to focus on other things when I receive a message, and I can most definitely concentrate better on other tasks once I've responded to my messages (preoccupation). I feel a strong need to respond immediately - especially if work-related, and in the same vein, I have an overwhelming feeling to respond right at that moment when I receive a request from someone. It's really difficult for me to resist responding to a message right away (urge).
When did this happen? The how I can answer - with neither my consent nor my cognisance!
It has crept up on me, to the extent that, no, that e-mail cannot wait until tomorrow, that query cannot be sent at another time, that lead cannot be followed up "later" and that comment cannot be responded to at a more earthly hour - no!
What the studies don't do is offer advice on how to kick the anger-fuelling behaviour to the curb. At least, if nothing else, they do make us aware we could be helpless victims of telepressure - and provide us with a great scapegoat.
I don't have anger management issues. I have an iPhone.
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