UC Irvine

Smartphones are often vilified for negatively influencing well-being and contributing to stress, but these devices may also be potentially used in positive ways to aid in stress recovery. Despite the vast potential afforded by smartphones, this topic has rarely been studied in experimental stress research and little is known about whether smartphones can alter recovery trajectories following a stressful experience. Thus, this dissertation investigates the psychological and physiological effects of utilizing smartphones in differing ways following the experience of an acute laboratory stressor. Specifically, this dissertation examines how having a phone present, using a phone freely, or using a guided application on a smartphone influences stress recovery. To examine this issue, an experiment was conducted in which participants underwent a social-evaluative laboratory stressor and then were left alone to recover in a specific way depending on condition. Those in the no phone condition did not have access to their phone. Those in the phone present condition had a phone in their possession but were restricted from using it. Those in the phone use condition could use their phone freely. Those in the guided phone use condition used an application that delivered heart rate variability biofeedback training. Psychological and physiological stress recovery was assessed via repeated measures of salivary alpha amylase and self-reported stress. Results indicated that those in the guided phone use condition had significantly steeper physiological recovery trajectories than those in the phone present and no phone conditions. The phone use and guided phone use conditions did not differ. No differences were found in regard to self-reported stress. In addition, mediation analyses were conducted to investigate mechanisms of interest based on a series of planned comparisons. Neither distraction, perceived social support, positive affect, negative affect, nor feelings of calm were found to be significant mediators. Therefore, no tested mechanisms explaining found effects were conclusively determined. From these results, it can be concluded that engaging in a brief biofeedback training session on a smartphone can effectively reduce physiological stress levels. Overall, this dissertation provides evidence to shed light on how, when, and why smartphones influence stress recovery.