January 6th, 2006
Cell Phones, Family Tension Connected?
By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews
Perfect timing for this story, as we’re about to inundated with a host of new devices this week, from CES 2006. And no doubt a lot of them will allow us to stay more connected with both home and work. On the other hand it’s not surprising … I personally know plenty of people who can’t seem to escape work at home or vice versa.
The round-the-clock availability that cell phones and pagers have brought to people’s lives may be taking a toll on family life, a new study suggests.
The study, which followed more than 1,300 adults over 2 years, found that those who consistently used a mobile phone or pager throughout the study period were more likely to report negative “spillover” between work and home life — and, in turn, less satisfaction with their family life.
Spillover essentially means that the line between work and home begins to blur. Work life may invade home life — when a parent is taking job-related calls at home, for instance — or household issues may start to take up work time.
In the latter scenario, a child may call mom at work, not to say that he aced his English test but that the “microwave exploded,” explained Noelle Chesley, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the author of the study. Source: Reuters
We Say: This study takes a different angle that others I’ve seen. Those I’ve seen were more focused on the over-connectedness we feel with work. In this case the article focuses on how cell phones and pagers seem to allow more negative exchanges between family members more often. And, according to the researchers, it also shows a differentiation between the effects on men and women.
I do think VPN access needs to be added to this. Being connected to work email and work servers means to many, hours working at home, and if your son or daughter comes in right when you’re aggravated or concentrating on something … At any rate, how about you readers? Do you feel that being constantly connected has affected your life negatively?
Stephen says:
I have taken care to make sure I’m not constantly connected. No work email access at home. Cell only used for essnetial communications. Only 4 or 5 people if that many even have my cell number. When out it mostly stays in the glove compartment. I never take it with me on my person. I really enjoy being out of touch and only being in touch on my terms. the ubiquity of the cell gives people an excuse to use it even when they don’t really need or have to. My unreachableness forces others and myself to plan ahead more.
January 6th, 2006 at 8:14 am
Bill M says:
I am wary of making a causal connection here, because it may be working the other way: people remain connected to work BECAUSE they are unsatisfied with their personal lives. A production probelm or even a minor question could be a welcome relief from a family argument.
THe previous post expressed my own views — I choose to limit the interaction between my working life and my home life, and no technology will dictate my use of time.
January 6th, 2006 at 8:42 am
Jimmy says:
I try to stay away from my cell phone as much as possible, very few people have the number to start with, and only a couple co-workers who I know would only call for an emergency. I leave mine laying in my truck most of the time anyway. But, the other day I was thinking just the opposite of this, when I was picking up my son after middle school basketball practice, I watched a car leave with the mom on her cell phone, and her son on his cell phone. Talk about disconnected, he had just gotten in the car and both were already on the phone. My boy and I instead had a conversation about practice and school and whatever else I could wring out of him. Overall, I think too much of anything is bad, especially cell phones.
January 6th, 2006 at 8:53 am
BillBC says:
I don’t own a cell phone…my wife has one in her car for emergencies, and that’s the only time we use it. I’m not a Luddite…I’ve been using computers of one sort or another for thirty years. I just don’t feel the need of being connected with everyone, all the time. I live happily without one.
January 7th, 2006 at 6:41 am