Smartphones as Security Blankets:

People of all genders, races, and socio-economic backgrounds are now able to own and operate smartphones, and smartphone ownership and usage have been steadily increasing over the past decade. Research exploring the consequences of this technology on behavior and cognitive functioning typically promote a negative view of smartphones, as users are subject to higher levels of smartphone dependency which correlates with depression and anxiety. To address possible positive influences of smartphones on emotional coping, the present study investigated whether holding a smartphone while in an anxious situation would result in a “security blanket” effect associated with a relative reduction in anxiety. In the experiment, participants watched an anxiety inducing video either while holding their smartphone or not. The STAI form was used before and after watching the video to calculate change in anxiety. The results did not support a security blanket effect of smartphones, though we found males experienced more anxiety throughout the study. Future research with a larger and more representative sample may be necessary to fully understand any potential benefits of smartphone use on coping with anxiety.