Exploring predictors of phantom phone signals: phone use, hallucination-proneness and delusional ideation

Abstract

Background: Phantom Phone Signals (PPS) are false perceptions that a smartphone has vibrated or made a sound. PPS are typically non-distressing, non-disruptive hallucinations. Increased PPS likelihood is linked to frequent and problematic phone use, mood, anxiety and hallucination-proneness. This study aimed to investigate the role of resilience, delusion-proneness, and metacognition on PPS.

Method: this online, self-report, questionnaire study included 265 participants (mean age: 19.74; 84.2% female, no experience of psychosis). Participants completed the Phantom Phone Experiences and Appraisal Scale (PPEAS) to assess PPS, along with the Problematic Use of Mobile Phone Scale (PUMP), Resilience Scale (RS-14), Multi-Modality Unusual Sensory Experiences Questionnaire (MUSEQ), Peters Delusion Inventory (PDI-21), and Metacognition Self-Assessment Scale (MSAS).

Results: PPS were prevalent, with 86.8% of participants reporting at least one phantom phone experience. These experiences were generally infrequent, non-distressing, and non-disruptive, as reflected in low PPEAS Composite Impact Scores (M = 4.25, SD = 3.66). PPS were significantly correlated with Problematic phone use (r = .345), hallucination-proneness (r = .321) and delusional ideation (r =.226), but not resilience or metacognition. Regression analyses indicated that higher MUSEQ and higher PUMP scores were associated with higher odds of experiencing more PPS and explained 18% variance in PPEAS Composite Impact Scores. This direct relationship was not mediated or moderated by resilience or metacognition.

Conclusion: PPS are highly prevalent amongst university students and are primarily a benign experience influenced by problematic phone use and hallucination-proneness. Behavioural interventions may be the most effective approach for reducing PPS where required.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Emma C. Palmer-Cooper: orcid.org/0000-0002-5416-1518

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