Owning a Smartphone Before Age 13 Linked to Alarming Mental Health Declines, Global Study Finds
SciTechDaily reported:
A worldwide study involving more than 100,000 participants has found that receiving a smartphone before the age of 13 is linked with weaker mental health and lower overall wellbeing in early adulthood.
The most severe effects are seen in females, with nearly half of those given a phone at age 5 or 6 reporting severe suicidal thoughts compared to less than a third who received one at age 13
The research, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, reported that individuals aged 18 to 24 who first owned a smartphone at 12 or younger were more likely to experience suicidal thoughts, heightened aggression, feelings of detachment from reality, difficulties with emotional control, and diminished self-worth.
The findings further indicate that these negative outcomes are closely tied to early exposure to social media and increased vulnerability to cyberbullying, poor sleep quality, and strained family relationships later in life. Researchers from Sapien Labs, the organization behind the world’s largest mental wellbeing database, the Global Mind Project (which provided the data for this study), are urging immediate measures to safeguard the mental health of future generations.
Limited exposure and access to smart phones and other devices prior to age 13 (especially) is highly encouraged a as preventative method to mental, emotional and physical health decline. Ideally these healthy lifestyle habits would be applied to all ages - as these effects are reported in people of all ages, not just those under the age of 25 who are still in the process of brain development and growth.
Link to original article post: https://scitechdaily.com/owning-a-smartphone-before-13-linked-to-alarming-mental-health-declines-global-study-finds/
Another article with further details on the findings of this global study: Getting a Smartphone Too Young Linked to Lasting Mental Health Harm
We have a more in depth article here; Too Much of a Good Screen?
Plus for info to mitigate “Device Detriment Syndrome'“ with natural solutions, preventing and even reversing symptoms, check out our Mindfulness Tools and Resources & Research for a ton of science-backed support.
