Six in 10 US BlackBerry users check emails in bed, survey finds

They're doing it in bed, in the bath and in the back of cars. America's CrackBerry addiction has got worse.

A survey by AOL and Opinion Research of 4,025 Americans over the age of 13 found that almost six out of 10 used their mobile email gadgets in bed. Four out of 10 said they kept them nearby as they slept so they could hear incoming mail. A similar proportion said they had replied to emails in the middle of the night. A further 37% responded to emails when they were driving.

But the figure that will cause most alarm in this God-fearing country is that 12% admitted to sneaking a look at their BlackBerrys while sitting in a church or synagogue.

BlackBerrys and other handheld email devices have taken the US by storm. The AOL survey suggests that one in five people are using the gadgets, double the figure of a similar survey in 2004.

Addictive monitoring of emails extended into holidays, with 83% checking for messages while on vacation.

One positive piece of news is that as the problem grows so does self-awareness, a crucial first step in seeking help. One in six said they had accepted they were addicted to BlackBerrys, with more women (16%) than men (13%) facing up to it.

As awareness grows, so does understanding of the solutions. A useful technique is to count exchanges of email. If you find yourself emailing back and forth with an individual more than three times a day, it's time to pick up the phone.