NIHR-funded study reveals teenagers with problematic smartphone use are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety

Recent NIHR-funded research links excessive smartphone use with depression, anxiety, and insomnia in teens. The NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre studied two age groups: 16-18 and 13-16-year-olds. For 16-18-year-olds, 18.7% reported problematic use (PSU), with these teens twice as likely to experience anxiety and nearly three times as likely to be depressed. They used TikTok and Instagram more, though overall app use was similar to peers without PSU. For 13-16-year-olds, 14.5% reported PSU, with higher rates of anxiety (44% vs. 26%) and depression (56% vs. 36%) compared to non-PSU peers. Effective strategies to reduce smartphone use include using "Do Not Disturb" mode and turning off notifications. Ineffective strategies include app restrictions and locked boxes. The findings highlight the need for interventions and encourage parents to discuss smartphone use with their teens.