Mobile workers are displaying “a psychological dependence” on their smartphones, according to a study from research company iPass. 

The study, called Mobilemania Sweeps the Enterprise, reports that 40 per cent of mobile workers said they would feel disoriented, 34 per cent would feel distraught, and 10 per cent would feel lonely without their device of choice for a week.

The company defines a mobile worker as: “Any worker using any mobile device (including laptop, smartphone, cellphone, or tablet) who accesses networks for work purposes”.

iPass also says that mobile workers work 240 hours more than their non-mobile counterparts, and 25 per cent say they sleep less than six hours per night. A third claim that lack of sleep is because of work.

On a lighter note, the company says that cigarette breaks are being replaced by mobile Facebook sessions, with a third of mobile workers listing it as the main distraction throughout the day. 

You can download a copy of Mobilemania Sweeps the Enterprise from the iPass website.