A European study has linked certain personality traits with the likelihood of smartphone addiction.

The researchers found a significant correlation between the ‘big five’ personality traits (neuroticism,  extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness) and smart phone addiction. 

In the study of over 700 high school and university students, they looked at factors like the number of hours spent using the smartphone, its general use, attitudes towards it and anxiety without technology.

They found more than a quarter of the participants met the definition of a smartphone addict.

The researchers found those with higher neuroticism, lower conscientiousness and lower openness were more likely to be smartphone addicts.

The researchers say emotions like anger, irritability and feelings of insecurity could explain the link between specific personality traits and smartphone addiction.

The full study is accessible here.