Teenagers enjoy using mobile phones, says study

Hyderabad: Some nineteen per cent of the teenagers who used mobile phones have stated that this gives them enjoyment, while 45 per cent said it helps them communicate easily. This is as per a survey carried out among 200 college students here.

The maximum number of boys who participated in the survey said mobile phones are for enjoyment and 28 per cent boys said they spent, on average, at least two hours every day playing games on the phones.

The study published in the Home Science Journal was based on interviews carried out in 20 colleges here. The resea-rchers observed that 45 per cent of the students felt mobile phones helpe-d them to communicate easily. The priority for 64 per cent of the boys was to communicate with fri-ends. The girls preferr-ed, rather, to communicate with their parents.

Also, 14 per cent of the girls spoke to their grandparents regularly. Psychologist P C Gupta explained, “The phone habits show the sensitivity of the person to connect and communicate with others about their whereabouts or the place they are in. Most girls are always told that they must tell where they are going, which is not the case with boys. Hence we find more constructive reciprocation from the girls than the boys.”

In this group, only 10 per cent of the students stated that they are habi-tuated to their mobile phones and can’t do without it. Psychiatrist Dr Pramod Kumar expla-ined, “Adolescent studies in various colleges show that mobile phones are becoming a means for students to maintain their relationships.”