'There's more to life than staring at a small screen': a mixed methods cohort study of problematic smartphone use and the relationship to anxiety, depression and sleep in students aged 13-16 years old in the UK.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Depression and anxiety are common in adolescents and have increased over the last decade. During that period, smartphone usage has become ubiquitous.

Objectives

The study aim was to assess the association between problematic smartphone usage (PSU) and anxiety.

Methods

Using a prospective mixed methods cohort study design, students aged 13-16 year old from two schools were enrolled regarding their smartphone use, mood and sleep via a semistructured questionnaire at baseline and week 4. The primary outcome was symptoms of anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, GAD-7) and exposure was PSU (Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version). A linear regression was fitted to assess the change in anxiety. Thematic analysis of free-text responses was conduct

SUBMITTER: Carter B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11293406 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature