A new study conducted by researchers from Hanyang University Medical Center, Korea, sheds light on the potential impact of excessive smartphone use on the mental health and substance use patterns of Korean adolescents. The findings, presented in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on December 6, 2023, draw attention to the correlation between prolonged smartphone usage and adverse health outcomes.
As smartphone usage among adolescents has witnessed a surge in recent years, concerns about its potential association with various health issues, including psychiatric disorders, sleep disturbances, eye-related problems, and musculoskeletal disorders, have grown. While some studies suggest that daily internet usage may contribute to better physical and mental health for adolescents, the current research aims to delve deeper into understanding the complex relationship between smartphone use and health outcomes.
Jin-Hwa Moon, Jong Ho Cha, and their colleagues conducted an extensive analysis of data from over 50,000 adolescent participants enrolled in the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, collected in both 2017 and 2020. The data encompassed the approximate daily hours spent on smartphones by each participant, alongside various health measures. To ensure a comprehensive analysis, the researchers utilized propensity score matching to account for other factors that might be associated with health outcomes, such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
The study revealed a notable increase in smartphone usage, with 85.7 percent of adolescents in 2020 reporting usage exceeding 2 hours per day, compared to 64.3 percent in 2017. Adolescents who spent more than 4 hours daily on smartphones exhibited higher rates of stress, suicidal thoughts, and substance use compared to their peers with usage below 4 hours per day. Intriguingly, those who used smartphones for 1-2 hours per day experienced fewer problems than both their counterparts and those who abstained from smartphone use altogether.
It is crucial to note that this study does not establish a causal relationship between smartphone use and adverse health outcomes. Nevertheless, the findings prompt considerations for developing guidelines on smartphone usage for adolescents, particularly in the context of a continuous rise in daily usage. The research underscores the importance of monitoring and understanding the potential impacts of increased smartphone use on the well-being of adolescents.