Assessing Users´ Attachment to Their Mobile Devices

Mobile devices are often described as very personal objects and users are said to develop deep relationships with them. Motivated by such recurring statements, this paper introduces user-device attachment as a concept describing the relationship between users and their mobile devices. By drawing on literature from marketing, HCI, and sociology, the domain and dimensions of user-device attachment are described. Three dimensions: symbolism, aesthetics, and perceived necessity are conceptualized to represent elements of user-device attachment. An initial instrument for measurement is developed and assessed with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Corresponding with the conceptualized dimensions, a three-factor solution was found and confirmed using data gathered in two surveys (n₁=130, n₂=323). The resulting instrument provides a basis for future discussions and conceptual and empirical work on the phenomenon of user-device attachment in mobile user behavior. Possible benefits of applying the construct to areas like mobile advertising and mobile service development are identified.