Associations between smartphone use and mental health and well-being among young Swiss men. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Studer, Joseph; Marmet, Simon; Wicki, Matthias; Khazaal, Yasser; Gmel, Gerhard
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychiatric research. Volume 156(2023)
• Page Start: 602
• Page End: 610
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Smartphone -- Mental health -- Well-being -- Young adults -- Cohort study on substance-use risk factors (C-SURF); Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental Disorders -- Periodicals; Maladies mentales -- Périodiques; Psychiatry; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.10.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3956

Abstract

Abstract: Background and aims: Intense use of smartphones is associated with mental health problems and low well-being. However, little is known about the mental health and well-being of non- and low-level users. This study investigated the possibly non-linear associations between time spent using a smartphone, including non-users, and mental health and well-being among young adults. Methods: Between 2016 and 2018, 5315 young Swiss men (M = 25.45 years old, SD = 1.25) completed a questionnaire assessing smartphone use, daily time spent using a smartphone, mental health and well-being (i.e. depression, social anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, life satisfaction, stress) and potential confounding variables (social capital, personality, education). The associations of smartphone use and time spent using a smartphone (linear and quadratic associations) with mental health and well-being were tested using regression models. Results: Non-users (4.3%) reported worse mental health and well-being than smartphone users on all outcomes. Time spent using a smartphone was linearly associated with higher rates of social anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and lower levels of life satisfaction. The association with stress was non-linear, with significant linear and quadratic coefficients of time spent using a smartphone. Associations were partially attributable to confounding variables (i.e. social capital, personality, and education). Conclusions: Non-users and intense users of smartphones have lower levels of mental health and well-being than low-level users. Although society and mental health professionals are deeply concerned about the potentially negative consequences of the ever-increasing use of smartphones, the present study suggested that not using a smartphone may also indicate problems.