Study: Owning a smartphone at age 12 increases risk of depression, obesity and insufficient sleep

Owning a smartphone at an early age may increase risks for the mental and physical health of adolescents, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics and cited by Xinhua and CNN. The research, one of the largest conducted so far on the subject, confirms the warnings issued in recent years by experts regarding early exposure to technology. The study analyzed data from more than 10,000 12-year-old children in the United States, participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study), one of the most comprehensive projects dedicated to neurological development during adolescence. The results clearly show that 12-year-olds who owned a smartphone had a higher risk of: depression, obesity, insufficient sleep, compared to those who did not yet have a smart device.

The authors emphasize that this data represents "essential and timely information" that should be taken into account by parents, educators and decision-makers in the process of regulating the use of smartphones by children and adolescents.

The study also tracks the evolution of behaviors at age 13. Of the 3,486 adolescents who did not have a smartphone at age 12, those who received one the following year (1,546 children) recorded: a higher risk of problems in the field of psychopathology, less restful sleep, compared to those who remained without a smartphone at age 13, according to data published in Pediatrics.

"Many experts have urged parents to delay the moment when their children receive their first smartphone because of the possible negative effects on adolescent health, but until now there has been little empirical evidence to support this advice," explained Dr. Ran Barzilay, the study's lead author and a psychiatrist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, quoted by CNN. He points out that this research "fills an important gap” by relying on a large national sample, which allows for robust generalizations. Barzilay, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, points out, however, that the study did not investigate the specific ways in which teenagers use smartphones or the amount of time they spend in front of screens - key factors that can influence psychological and physical well-being. The study also does not clarify whether these patterns are also found among younger children or older adolescents.

• Expert recommendations

Barzilay recommends that parents have open discussions with teenagers about the risks associated with smartphone use and establish healthy rules together.

"Tell teenagers that having a smartphone can affect their health and that you want to help them form healthy habits regarding phone use,” says the American specialist. Among the frequent recommendations of experts are: limiting the time spent on phones, avoiding using the smartphone before bedtime, encouraging physical activities, maintaining a constant dialogue between parents and children.