Smartphone use for more than four days every day and complete abstinence increases the risk of mental disorders in adolescents. The research was published in the journal PLOS ONE.
More than 50 thousand South Korean youth participated in the new study. Data was collected in 2017 and 2020. Participants were asked to report the approximate number of hours per day they spent on their smartphones.
In 2017, the share of young people using smartphones for more than 2 hours a day was 64.3%, and in 2020 it was 85.7%. Those who used smartphones for more than four hours a day had higher stress scores, higher rates of suicidal thoughts and substance use. However, teens who use smartphones for one to two hours a day have fewer mental health problems than teens who don’t use smartphones at all.
The authors note that this study does not prove a causal relationship between smartphone use and negative health outcomes.
Previous research has shown that smartphone use among young people has increased in recent years and may be associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, including mental health problems, sleep problems, vision problems and musculoskeletal disorders. However, consistent with the authors’ findings, there is growing evidence that small amounts of daily smartphone use may be associated with improved physical and mental health in adolescents.
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