Study: Teens with “problematic smartphone use” more likely to experience anxiety and depression

08/07/2024 / By Olivia Cook

Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IOPPN) at King’s College London have warned that teenagers who show symptoms of “problematic smartphone use” (PSU) are more likely to experience anxiety and depression.

PSU refers to a large range of behaviors and emotions similar to addiction. This includes anxiety or distress when without a phone, difficulty in limiting phone use, prolonged use without satisfaction and neglecting other enjoyable or meaningful activities in favor of phone use.

IOPPN researchers conducted two significant studies to investigate the relationship between PSU and mental health in adolescents.

The first study published in Acta Paediatrica involved 16- to 18-year-olds from five secondary schools across England. It revealed that “teens reporting PSU were twice as likely to experience anxiety and nearly three times as likely to experience depression compared to those who did not report PSU.”

The second study published in the journal BMJ Mental Health focused on 13- to 16-year-olds from two secondary schools in London. It found that 44.4 percent with PSU experienced anxiety symptoms, compared to 26.4 percent of those without PSU. Additionally, 55.6 percent of teens with PSU reported symptoms of depression, compared to 35.8 percent of their peers without PSU. This study also monitored PSU’s impact over time, showing that increases in PSU scores over four weeks were associated with higher levels of self-reported anxiety, depression and insomnia.

These pioneering studies evaluated the link between PSU and mental health outcomes in adolescents, finding that 18.7 percent of 16- to 18-year-olds and 14.5 percent of 13- to 16-year-olds reported PSU – with higher rates among girls.

Both studies indicated that many young people were aware of their excessive smartphone use and wished to reduce it. Nearly two-thirds of 16- to 18-year-olds had tried to cut down, with one in eight seeking help. Teens with PSU were five times more likely to want help compared to their peers. Similarly, almost 90 percent of 13- to 16-year-olds had tried strategies to limit their use, such as silencing notifications.

The researchers noted that adolescents were aware of the need to manage their smartphone use and were open to setting boundaries.

How to encourage healthy phone habits in teens

Parenting expert and award-winning author Jessica Speer highlighted how parents can help prevent their teenager children from developing unhealthy smartphone habits.

Teens today are simply growing up in an era dominated by digital technology. Phones help them connect with friends, explore identities, find entertainment, seek validation and stay informed. Parents are encouraged to recognize that teens are navigating a digital world not designed with their well-being in mind. Approach conversations about screen time with empathy and set boundaries together.

If phone use is affecting the daily life, sleep schedule or well-being of teenagers, parents are encouraged to update family tech usage rules through calm and open discussions with children to help come up with agreeable solutions. This could mean establishing communal charging stations at night, limiting platforms or reducing phone time.

While technology has its drawbacks, it also offers benefits. Discuss both sides with teenagers and share personal experiences, such as needing to check phones often or relying on apps for certain tasks like driving. These conversations can help teenagers understand how to navigate the digital world more effectively. (Related: Meta intentionally got children and teens ADDICTED to social media to exploit them for profit.)

Learn more about the mental health of children and teenagers at Mental.news.

Watch this video about the new study that links phone use and mental health issues in teens.

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