About one in five teenagers aged 16-18 display problematic behaviour with their phones, study finds
Teenagers who fall prey to “problematic smartphone use” are more likely to suffer from insomnia, anxiety and depression, a new study suggests.
But they said there are some similarities between problematic smartphone use and substance or behavioural addictions, such as a loss of control over use, neglect of more meaningful activities and distress if access is restricted. Almost two-thirds of the participants said they had tried to cut down on their smartphone use, with one in eight wanting help to do so – a request more common among those with PSU.
Teens with PSU spent longer on Instagram and TikTok than those without. They also had twice the odds of having symptoms of moderate anxiety, almost three times the odds of having moderate depression symptoms, and a greater likelihood of insomnia. However the team caution it is unclear to what extent PSU is a cause or effect of such difficulties.
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