A large new study has found that owning a smartphone at a young age may be linked to several health problems in early adolescence, including depression, being overweight, and not getting enough sleep.
The research was published online in the journal Pediatrics. It was led by Dr. Ran Barzilay and his team at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, which followed over 10,000 children across the United States.
At age 12, children who owned smartphones were more likely to have mental and physical health issues compared to those who didn’t. Specifically, smartphone owners had:
A 31% higher risk of depression
A 40% higher risk of obesity
A 62% higher chance of not getting enough sleep
The younger a child was when they got their first smartphone, the greater their risks. Each earlier year of phone ownership was linked to increased chances of being overweight and not sleeping well.
Researchers also looked at nearly 3,500 kids who did not own a smartphone at age 12 but got one by age 13. These teens were more likely to experience:
A 57% increase in clinical-level mental health issues
A 50% increase in insufficient sleep
This period—between childhood and adolescence—is already a sensitive time for brain, emotional, and sleep development. The study suggests that smartphone ownership may add extra risks during this high-risk period.
The authors say more studies are needed to understand these effects better. Still, the findings suggest that families, schools, and doctors should be thoughtful about when children receive smartphones and how they are used.
Some authors had ties to technology or law companies, but the findings were based on data from a large and reliable study.
This study strengthens concerns that early smartphone use may harm children’s mental and physical health. Although it doesn’t prove that smartphones directly cause these problems, the strong links suggest caution. Parents may want to delay giving smartphones to children and set clear limits on screen time, especially before bed.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and results showing Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
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