title: New psychology research reveals a vicious cycle involving smartphone use and feelings of disconnection. When college students feel unfocused, they often reach for their phones for relief, which actually tends to leave them feeling even more detached the following day
author: u/Wagamaga
contenttype: redditpost
publication: r/science
published: 2026-02-28T13:59:45+00:00
sourceurl: https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/1rh3cgx/newpsychologyresearchrevealsavicious_cycle/
word_count: 208
Link: https://www.psypost.org/new-psychology-research-reveals-a-vicious-cycle-involving-smartphone-use-and-feelings-of-disconnection/
Score: 1398 | Comments: 29 | Subreddit: r/science
Top Comments
u/[deleted] (95 pts):
Honestly, I believe smartphones have been a net negative on society. Phones themselves are good…they allow you to talk and connect with other people. But smartphones go beyond that, and our Palaeolithic brain is not evolved enough to wisely handle all the dopamine hits provided by the smartphone. It’s the 21st century addiction, and the vast majority of people who claim their phone isn’t controlling them are in denial.
u/Zeikos (25 pts):
Yeah definitely.
I found out that when I am bored and feel like my brain needs a refresh what's best is to just stare at a blank wall for 5-10 minutes.
Way more restful, I feel like my brain works better after doing that.
u/818818818 (51 pts):
omg this is literally me in my morning lectures.. i swear i check my phone when i'm bored but then feel even worse after scrolling for 20 mins.
u/Brrdock (25 pts):
It's honestly distressing how disconnected people feel nowadays.
Everyone likes to think it's just about "minding my own business," but no, it seems more like people just aren't present and open for life anymore, and just want their one-track curated little reality, and everything unexpected or unplanned feels undesirable in comparison.
And I'm hardly an exception.
Smartphones or social media and their profit-driven utilization does seem to contribute to that, taking over our lives, but you have to wonder how much of that is symptomatic over strictly causative
u/Wagamaga (7 pts):
A new study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors provides evidence that excessive smartphone use and feelings of disconnection fuel each other in a continuous daily cycle. When college students feel unfocused, they often reach for their phones for relief, which actually tends to leave them feeling even more detached the following day. These findings suggest that breaking this loop requires actively replacing screen time with meaningful offline activities.
With the rapid growth of digital technology, problematic smartphone use has become a major concern for young adults. This type of device engagement refers to screen habits that span multiple apps and become difficult to control, eventually interfering with daily life. Such excessive use has been linked to poorer mental health, strained relationships, and lower academic performance.
A related issue is disengagement, which is a temporary state of boredom where a person feels disconnected from their current environment. Disengaged individuals often have difficulty maintaining attention on meaningful tasks and might experience negative emotions. According to psychological theories, this detached feeling acts as a signal that a person is not finding their current activity rewarding.
Some scientists suggest that individuals naturally strive to maintain an optimal level of mental stimulation. When a task feels too repetitive or lacks meaning, an uncomfortable sense of lethargy sets in. Because smartphones provide immediate and endless entertainment, they offer an easy way to escape these uncomfortable feelings of boredom.