cell phone world

April 8, 2006: Cell Phone Use Causing "Family Problems"

Back in 2001 I wrote an article about the cell phone and its effects on society. While very general, it did stress that socially, many of the changes brought about with the introduction of the cell phone were negative. While the cell phone proved to be a boon in simplifying communication, it also opened up new ways to "work when not at work."

In January, MSNBC highlighted a study that took place over a 2 year period and concluded that "cell phones may be taking a toll on family life."

The study, which represented about 1,300 adults, found that the most frequent cell phone users experienced "negative spillover" - a measurement of how much work life entered into non-work life.

It's very easy to see how this is possible. Cell phones have made it easier than ever for workers to take job-related calls from home, work from home, and be "on call" - especially if they've been given a company cell phone.

Interestingly, the changes differed depending on whether the cell phone user was male or female. Females tended to juggle their work duties and their home duties interchangeably - there was negative spillover at work and at home. The female group let home duties spill over into work, and vice versa.

According to the study, the negative spillover resulted in less-than-happy family life.

("Family Problems? Blame the Cell Phone" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10721781 www.msnbc.com 2 April 2006.)

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