Are you suffering from 'ringxiety'?

If you often face a situation where you hear your mobile phone ringing or feel it vibrating but in reality it is not, you may have "ringxiety" and be psychologically primed to detect such signals, according to a study.

Insecurity in interpersonal relationships, manifested as attachment anxiety, increases the likelihood of having phantom mobile phone experiences, said Daniel Kruger and Jaikob Djerf from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

The researchers evaluated and compared the frequency of phantom ringing and notifications among individuals characterised as having either attachment anxiety (worries about being abandoned or their feelings not being reciprocated) or attachment avoidance (keeping distance from partners).

They reported that individuals who scored higher in attachment anxiety -- indicating that they may seek more reassurance of their partners' interest -- were more likely to experience phantom ringing and notifications.

The ringxiety may result in both immediate and longer term negative health effects, including headache, stress, and sleep disturbances.

The study findings were published on the peer-reviewed online journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.