Psychologists explain drivers of smartphone addiction and post-vacation mood shifts

Psychologists and neurobiologists are examining the underlying causes of modern behavioral patterns, such as compulsive smartphone use and post-vacation mood drops.

Regarding digital habits, researchers explain that frequent phone checking is often driven by a search for connection or an escape from unpleasant emotions like stress and boredom. Neurobiologically, the dopamine system plays a central role; apps utilize a mechanism known as “intermittent, unpredictable reinforcement,” similar to slot machines, where the anticipation of a reward—such as a like or a message—triggers dopamine spikes that drive repetitive scrolling.

Separately, mental health experts distinguish between clinical depression and the common “post-vacation blues.” Psychologist Maja Savanović Zorić notes that the latter is typically a difficulty adjusting to the contrast between the freedom of holiday life and the pressures of daily routines, such as deadlines and early rising, rather than a depressive disorder.