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Abstract
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The use of smart devices and the average time spent on mobile phones is steadily increasing among children and adolescents. On average, they spend more than three hours a day online. Recently, attention has been directed toward internet addiction and the negative consequences of its excessive use. Clinical practice during inpatient treatment mandates the confiscation of smart devices upon hospitalization, which forms the basis of this research. Under such conditions, it becomes possible to observe behaviors and emotional states that emerge when mobile phones are withheld, cutting off contact with the virtual world. Existing literature indicates that pronounced negative emotions resembling withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety, and insomnia, are reported in such cases. The aim of this study is to investigate whether participants perceive their mental state as worsening due to the lack of a phone during hospitalization, or conversely, if they notice positive effects of digital detox (e.g., improved attention, concentration, self-confidence, social interactions, etc.). We hope to advance the understanding of smartphone dependency by contextualizing its effects within the unique framework of psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents. By investigating the psychological dimensions of both dependency and abstinence, the study will contribute to theoretical models of digital addiction and its positive and negative effects in clinical settings. Furthermore, by highlighting both the negative and positive effects of smartphone abstinence, these contributions can also provide actionable recommendations for caregivers, educators, and policy-makers to create environments that support healthier digital habits during critical periods of psychological recovery.
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