Addictive Screen Use Trajectories and Suicidal Behaviors, Suicidal Ideation, and Mental Health in US Youths

Summary & key facts

This US cohort study followed 4,285 children (mean age 10.0 years) from 2016 to 2022. Researchers identified several common patterns (trajectories) of addictive use of social media, mobile phones, and video games between about ages 11 and 15. Youths with either high or increasing addictive-use trajectories had higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and worse mental health scores than youths with low addictive-use trajectories. The study found links, not proof that screen use caused these outcomes.

Key facts:

• The study analyzed 4,285 children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. The mean age at baseline was 10.0 years (SD 0.6); 47.9% were female.
• Researchers found 3 distinct addictive-use trajectories for social media and mobile phones, and 2 trajectories for video games.
• Nearly one-third of participants had an increasing addictive-use trajectory for social media or mobile phones beginning at about age 11.
• In adjusted analyses, an increasing addictive-use trajectory for social media was associated with a higher risk of suicidal behaviors (risk ratio [RR] 2.14; 95% CI, 1.61–2.85) compared with the low-use trajectory.
• A high-peaking addictive-use trajectory for social media was also associated with suicidal behaviors (RR 2.39; 95% CI, 1.66–3.43) compared with low use.
• The high video game addictive-use trajectory showed the largest relative increase in internalizing symptoms (CBCL T score difference 2.03; 95% CI, 1.45–2.61) versus the low-use trajectory.
• The increasing social media trajectory was associated with higher externalizing symptoms (CBCL T score difference 1.05; 95% CI, 0.54–1.56) versus low use.
• Total screen time measured at baseline was not associated with suicidal outcomes or mental health outcomes in this study.
• This study is observational. The reported results are associations after adjustment for several baseline factors, and do not prove that addictive screen use causes suicidal behavior or worse mental health.

Abstract

High or increasing trajectories of addictive use of social media, mobile phones, or video games were common in early adolescents. Both high and increasing addictive screen use trajectories were associated with suicidal behaviors and ideation and worse mental health.

Topics

Child Development and Digital Technology Impact of Technology on Adolescents Media Influence and Health

Categories

Social Sciences Sociology and Political Science

Tags

Addiction Clinical psychology Cognitive science Human factors and ergonomics Ideation Injury prevention Medical emergency Medicine Mental health Occupational safety and health Pathology Poison control Psychiatry Psychology Suicidal behavior Suicidal ideation Suicide prevention

Conditions & symptoms

Addiction Anxiety Depression Addiction or harmful habbits Anxiety or worry Sadness or low mood