Out of sight is not out of mind: The impact of restricting wireless mobile device use on anxiety levels among low, moderate and high users

•We examined anxiety when wireless mobile devices were unexpectedly not available.•Participants felt significantly more anxious over time.•Heavy wireless mobile device users were more anxious than low or moderate users.•Wireless mobile device dependency may cause anxiety when device is absent.•Heavy wireless mobile device users may feel separation anxiety when device is absent.