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

Summary & key facts

This study followed 4,285 U.S. children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study to look at patterns of addictive use of social media, mobile phones, and video games from about ages 11 to 15. The researchers found that high or steadily increasing patterns of addictive use were common. Those high or increasing patterns were linked with higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and with worse mental health scores, while how much total screen time kids reported at the start was not linked to these outcomes. The results show associations, not proof that screen use causes these problems.

Key facts:

• The study analyzed 4,285 children (mean age 10.0 years, SD 0.6) from 21 U.S. sites; 47.9% were female, 9.9% were Black, 19.4% were Hispanic, and 58.7% were White.
• Researchers identified 3 distinct trajectories (groups) of addictive use for social media and for mobile phones, and 2 trajectories for video games, based on child-reported measures collected in years 2–4 of follow-up.
• Nearly one-third of participants had an increasing addictive-use trajectory for social media or for mobile phones beginning around age 11.
• Compared with children in the low-use trajectory, an increasing addictive-use trajectory for social media was associated with a higher risk of suicidal behaviors (risk ratio 2.14, 95% CI 1.61–2.85).
• A high-peaking addictive-use trajectory for social media was also associated with higher suicidal behavior risk (risk ratio 2.39, 95% CI 1.66–3.43).
• The high video game addictive-use trajectory showed the largest relative difference in internalizing symptoms (CBCL internalizing T score difference 2.03, 95% CI 1.45–2.61) compared with the low-use group.
• The increasing social media addictive-use trajectory was associated with higher externalizing symptoms (CBCL externalizing T score difference 1.05, 95% CI 0.54–1.56) compared with the low-use group.
• Suicidal behaviors and ideation were assessed using child- and parent-reported information with the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (KSADS); internalizing and externalizing symptoms were measured with the parent-re
• Baseline total screen time (hours reported at the start) was not associated with suicidal behaviors, suicidal ideation, or mental health outcomes in this study.

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