Teens’ problematic smartphone use linked to anxiety, depression, and insomnia

Two new studies found that problematic smartphone use in teens is linked to anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Transcript

00:00So we have two studies. One is a large cross-sectional study of 16 to 18 year olds. And those who

00:22reported problematic smartphone use were twice as likely to suffer from anxiety and three

00:28times as likely to suffer from depression. So the features it shares are a subjective

00:42loss of control over use, primacy of the smartphone in their lives, so that they're spending time

00:47on their smartphone in preference to other meaningful activities or sleep, that they

00:52continue doing this despite an awareness of the downsides, that they feel a real sense

00:58of dysphoria or distress if they can't be near their smartphone or use their smartphone,

01:03and are finding that they're spending increasing amounts of time on their smartphone to get

01:08the same reward.