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An observational study published in JAMA looks at addictive screen use, suicidal behaviours and mental health in adolescents.
Dr Amy Orben, Programme Leader Track Scientist at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, said:
“The study suggests that poor mental health in young people is not directly linked to how much time they spend using technologies like social media. Instead, those who increasingly feel they use technologies compulsively, use them to avoid their problems, or feel their use is harming their lives (e.g., schoolwork) are more likely to report mental health issues or suicidal thoughts later on. The study cannot prove that technologies use causes these problems, and it could be that other unmeasured factors, such as young people’s ability to self-control, is the root cause for both higher reported problems with technology use and lower mental health. Yet the study importantly highlights that why and how young people use technologies, and how they feel technologies affect their lives, may matter more to their mental health than the time spent online. As those reporting such issues are not a small proportion of the population, supporting them should be taken seriously.”
Prof Lisa Henderson, Head of Department of Psychology, University of York, said:
“This paper is critical and timely, contributing a much-needed large-scale longitudinal analysis to the debate on digital harms in young people. The data points span a relatively recent period (2016-22), relatively more representative of the current digital landscape than many existing longitudinal datasets and meta-analyses. The authors adopt an innovative, fine-grained measurement approach, going beyond simple screen time metrics (which incidentally did not correlate with the mental health outcome measures) to model trajectories of additive use via latent class linear mixed models, separately for gaming, social media and phone use. The latter is particularly crucial, with existing evidence suggesting that the type (not just the amount) of digital activity is important when considering risks for mental health. The findings are alarming, showing that 1 in 2 had a high addictive use trajectory for video games, 1 in 3 for social media and 1 in 4 for mobile phone use, although some caution should be taken in extrapolating these findings to now given this study spanned the pandemic. We also need to determine the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms that underlie the relationships between addictive use and mental health outcomes. For example, converging evidence suggests that sleep disturbance may be a mediating mechanism here. Relatedly, this study did not directly address bidirectionality – that young people at greater risk of mental health problems may be more likely to turn to digital activities such as video gaming and social media, with this in turn feeding a further downward spiral in mental health. Finally, despite the innovative approach to characterising screen time, the study is nevertheless limited by a reliance on self-report measures which are prone to subjectivity and bias.”
Prof Chris Ferguson, Professor of Psychology, Stetson University, said:
“There are two take aways from this study. One is that time spent on screens does not predict mental health. The second is that for some kids overusing screens can be a red flag for other problems. It would be a mistake to think that removing screens would solve those problems…this study doesn’t show that. However, screen overuse can be a sign that kids are stressed in other areas. Other studies suggest this typically comes from schools and families not the screens themselves.”
‘Addictive Screen Use Trajectories and Suicidal Behaviors, Suicidal Ideation, and Mental Health in US Youths’ by first author et al. was published in JAMA at 16:00 UK time on Wednesday 18th June.
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2025.7829
Declared interests
Dr Amy Orben: “In the past 36 months, AO has received funding from the Jacobs Foundation, UK Research and Innovation (incl. Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council), the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, National Institute of Health, University of Cambridge, Emmanuel College of the University of Cambridge and the Livelihood Impact Fund. She was an unpaid member of the ESRC Smart Data Research UK Programme Board, British Academy Public Policy Committee, UK Department for Education Science Advisory Council, UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport College of Experts, Australian eSafety Commissioner Social Media Minimum Age Evaluation Academic Advisory Group, and a paid member of the Digital Futures for Children Centre Advisory Board. She has received payment for lectures from SWGfL and Apple University; she also received consulting fees from Innovate UK through Opalescent LTD.”
Prof Lisa Henderson: I have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Prof Chris Ferguson: No declarations