There is more and more scientific evidence that reveals the risks of the excessive use of new technologies for children and adolescents and, specifically, the abuse of smartphones, since minors use them too frequently to consult the networks. social networks and upload content that may compromise your privacy and security.
New research by scientists at Hanyang University Medical Center, South Korea, based on data from 40,998 adolescents who participated in the nationwide Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey for 2017 and 2020, has found higher rates of poor mental health (stress, sleep, depression, suicide, substance use, and smartphone overdependence) in those who use a smartphone for more than four hours a day.
The use and dependence on smartphones increased in 2020
The researchers analyzed the health impact of using these devices for more or less four hours a day and observed that the average time spent using smartphones by adolescents in 2020 increased compared to 2017, since, In 2020, the percentage of teens in the study who used a smartphone more than two hours a day was 85.7%, up from 64.3% in 2017. Additionally, 25.5% of teens experienced overdependence on smartphones in 2020.
Using a smartphone for more than four hours a day was significantly associated with perceived stress, suicidal ideation, and substance use (alcohol).
Adverse health outcomes were prominent after more than four hours a day of use. “Adolescents who used smartphones between 2 and 4 hours/day did not show greater adverse health outcomes compared to non-users, except for excessive dependence on smartphones,” they explained in their article published in the journal PLOS. ONE.
And they add that using a smartphone for more than four hours a day was significantly associated with the perception of stress, suicidal ideation and substance use (alcohol), after taking into account other factors that could influence the results such as age, sex, place of residence, socioeconomic level and academic performance.
The authors have warned that the results of their study do not confirm a causal relationship between smartphone use and negative health consequences, but indicate that the findings could help design the most recommended use guidelines for adolescents, especially if the daily use of these devices continues to increase.
