Research on whether or not the use of smartphones causes depression has been mixed but some new studies have shown that screentime affects teenagers’ self-esteem and mental health.
Other studies have shown a correlation between smartphone use, loneliness and isolation, particularly among teenagers.
A new study published in August in the Journal of Adolescent Health suggests that smartphone dependence is a good predictor of loneliness and depression.
The study, carried out among 346 adolescents, also showed that relying on smartphones preceded symptoms of loneliness and depression, rather than the other way around.
Listen to GHOGH with Jamarlin Martin | Episode 68: Jamarlin Martin
Jamarlin talks about the recent backlash against Lebron James for not speaking up for Joshua Wong and the violent Hong Kong protestors.
“The main takeaway is that smartphone dependency directly predicts later depressive symptoms,” said Matthew Lapierre, an assistant professor in the department of communication in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
“There’s an issue where people are entirely too reliant on the device, in terms of feeling anxious if they don’t have it accessible, and they’re using it to the detriment of their day-to-day life.”
The researchers measured smartphone dependency by asking study participants to use a four-point scale to rate a series of statements, such as “I panic when I cannot use my smartphone.”
Smartphones are still a relatively new technology and researchers across the globe continue to study how the devices affect people’s lives.
