Smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and sleep loss in early adolescents: Study

Smartphone addiction has become a major concern among parents these days. Adding to the increasing worries is an alleged link between smartphone ownership and higher risk of depression, obesity and insufficient sleep, as highlighted by a study published in the journal Pediatrics. The study, titled 'Smartphone Ownership, Age of Smartphone Acquisition, and Health Outcomes in Early Adolescence', was conducted by researchers from multiple institutions. It used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, a long-term research project tracking child development in the US.

What the study found

The study reported that smartphone ownership was associated with a 31% higher odds of depression, a 40% higher odds of obesity, and a 62% higher odds of insufficient sleep.

At age 12, 6,739 participants owned a smartphone, while 3,849 did not. Compared with those who did not own a smartphone, children who owned one had higher odds of experiencing depression, obesity, and insufficient sleep.

Among 3,486 children who did not own a smartphone at age 12, 1,546 acquired one by age 13. Compared with peers who did not receive a smartphone during that period, those who did had higher odds of reporting clinical-level mental health symptoms and insufficient sleep.

After controlling for baseline mental health and sleep patterns, the study found a 57% increase in odds of clinical-level psychological symptoms and a 50% increase in odds of insufficient sleep among new smartphone owners.

How the survey was conducted

The study surveyed 10,588 participants. The research analysed data from more than 10,000 children in the United States and examined both whether adolescents owned smartphones and the age at which they first received one. The study focused on health outcomes at ages 12 and 13 years. The research focused on factors such as family income, parental monitoring, puberty status, and ownership of other devices to better understand how smartphone access may be associated with physical and mental health outcomes during early adolescence.

Caregivers reported whether children owned smartphones and the age at which they first received one. Health outcomes were measured when participants were 12 years old, with follow-up analysis at age 13 for some participants.

Researchers also examined the age at which children first received a smartphone. They found that younger age of smartphone acquisition was associated with higher odds of obesity and insufficient sleep. For each year earlier that a child received a smartphone, the odds of obesity increased by 9%, and the odds of insufficient sleep increased by 8%.

What researchers reported

The researchers said the results were consistent across multiple sensitivity analyses. They stated that the findings provide data on associations between smartphone ownership, age of access, and health outcomes during early adolescence.

The study notes that the findings may be useful for caregivers and policymakers when considering adolescent smartphone use and related guidelines.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/well/family/early-smartphone-ownership-study.html