The authors conclude, through a large-scale empirical study at a large, Midwestern state university, that cell phone use (CPUse) among college students has a negative impact on their academic performance (measured by grade point average (GPA)), causes a certain degree of anxiety, and in turn lowers satisfaction with life (SWL).

Though the conclusions are not entirely surprising, very little previous research has explored the possible relationship between CPUse and measures of subjective well-being such as SWL. In the study, participants were recruited from a variety of undergraduate courses. A total of 536 students participated in the study. The study used four sections of the survey: demographic information, the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and questions about cellphone use and texting. Academic performance was measured using the participant’s cumulative GPA, accessed through official university records. On average, students reported spending 278.67 minutes on their cellphones and sending 76.68 text messages daily. Mean GPAs for the datasets were just above 3.00. The survey results indicate mild anxiety levels and high levels of life satisfaction. The authors observe: “for the population studied, high frequency cellphone users tended to have lower GPAs, higher anxiety, and lower SWL relative to their peers who used the cellphone less often.”

The research results are convincing, though not surprising. The conclusions from the paper are useful not only in social and psychological contexts, but also in the wider range of campus environments.