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Smartphone anxiety never takes a vacation. According to a recent study conducted by the Pool Pharma research center on a sample of internet users, up to 9 out of 10 Italians are unable to fully switch off even during their holidays, checking work messages and emails at least once every day. This constant digital access keeps the body from resetting, causing high levels of cortisol—the stress hormone—and altering the sleep-wake cycle, resulting in chronic fatigue. According to Camilla Pizzoni, General Manager of Pool Pharma, continuous notifications cause the sympathetic nervous system to enter a continual "fight or flight" state. The study also maps hyperconnectivity, which is intimately related to the economic fabric of various locations. Lombardy leads the way (25%), with corporate culture dictating cell phone use well after office hours. Lazio follows (16%), owing to the concentration of public administration executives and large law firms in Rome. Third rank goes to Emilia-Romagna (13%), which is known for manufacturing SMEs where critical jobs are rarely delegated, followed by Veneto (12%), whose family-run business model and overseas markets demand owners to check orders even from the beach. Closely following are Piedmont (10%), driven by Turin's automotive and aerospace sectors, Tuscany (8%), due to self-employed professionals' anxiety over control, and Campania (6%), with its high rate of self-employed workers vulnerable to strong competition. The rankings are completed by Liguria (4%), which is linked to the 24-hour pace of port logistics and tourism, Friuli-Venezia Giulia (3%), where shipbuilding managers are always available for international travel, and Sicily (3%), where the strong growth of emerging digital startups fuels fears of losing market positioning.
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