Professorship of Health, Work and Organizational Psychology

Mobile information and communication technologies have become indispensable in our everyday lives. Glancing at our smartphone is often one of the first things we do in the morning. On our way to school, university, or work, we consume news or social media on mobile technologies, and these devices accompany us throughout the day – be it in lectures, business meetings, when talking to friends or studying for an exam.

While mobile devices entail various advantages, they also have negative effects on their users as they promote stress and distraction. These negative consequences affect many everyday spheres, one of which is the academic context. Considering that young adults (and students) use mobile devices (smartphones in particular) on a regular basis and that these technologies are increasingly integrated into learning contexts inside and outside of school and university, it is important to shed more light on their impact on young individuals’ learning processes.

Study team members

Prof. Dr. Theda Radtke (head of study project); Tania Nuñez

This project aims at exploring successful ways to increase physical activity in adolescents. In particular, we want to answer the question whether physical activity can be enhanced for the long term by engaging in activities with a best friend. In this study, daily diaries as well as accelerometers are used to ensure an accurate recording of physical activities. Overall, adolescents participate in this study over the course of six months. Participants encompass friendship dyads between 14 and 18 years. Only adolescents who do not fulfil the recommendations for physical activity of the Federal Office of Public Health (Switzerland) are included in the study.

Study team members

Prof. Dr. Theda Radtke (head of study project); Prof. Urte Scholz (University of Zurich); Konstantin Schenkel (University of Zurich)

Sponsorship

Swiss National Science Foundation (FNSNF)

Publications on this project

Radtke, T., Luszczynska, A., Schenkel, K., Biddle, S., & Scholz, U. (2018). A cluster randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of an individual planning intervention with collaborative planning in adolescent friendship dyads to enhance physical activity (TWOgether). BMC Public Health, 18, 911. doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5818-6

The aim of this project is to examine media use and leisure activities in families. Tablets, game consoles, and smartphones have become integral parts of our children’s everyday life entailing various advantages, such as providing knowledge and entertainment. Yet, research shows that such technologies can also pose threats to individual health and well-being. This study project aims at examining research questions such as:  «How much media consumption is acceptable for children? How can families set reasonable limits on children’s technology use considering that parents and children have different ideas of media consumption? What are parents’ attitudes towards media consumption? Does media consumption before bedtime influence children’s well-being the following day?» To answer these questions, children and mothers completed daily diaries for two weeks. Children were between 11 and 14 years old.

Study team members

Prof. Dr. Theda Radtke (head of study); Dr. Janina Lüscher (University of Zurich); Prof. Urte Scholz (University of Zurich); Konstantin Schenkel (University of Zurich)

This research project examines daily smartphone use and its effects in employees by investigating the smartphone’s impact on factors such as daily work-home interference, sleep quality, and well-being. We collect objective data on employee’s smartphone use through mobile applications and on study participants’ sleep with activity sensors. Participants of this study complete daily diaries in the morning and evening over the course of three weeks. The study includes only employees with daily occupational and private smartphone use and working at least 32 hours a week.

Study team members

Prof. Dr. Theda Radtke (head of study); David Schmocker (University of Zurich); Prof. Urte Scholz (University of Zurich); Konstantin Schenkel (University of Zurich)