Citation

Ferguson CJ, Kaye LK, Branley-Bell D, Markey P, Ivory JD, Klisanin D, Elson M, Smyth M, Hogg JL, McDonnell D, Nichols D, Siddiqui S, Gregerson M, Wilson J. Prof. Psychol. Res. Pr. 2021; 53(2): 205-214.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/pro0000426

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The question of whether screen time, particularly time spent with social media and smartphones, influences mental health outcomes remains a topic of considerable debate among policy makers, the public, and scholars. Some scholars have argued passionately that screen media may be contributing to an increase in poor psychosocial functioning and risk of suicide, particularly among teens. Other scholars contend that the evidence is not yet sufficient to support such a dramatic conclusion. The current meta-analysis included 37 effect sizes from 33 separate studies. To consider the most recent research, all studies analyzed were published between 2015 and 2019. Across studies, evidence suggests that screen media plays little role in mental health concerns. In particular, there was no evidence that screen media contribute to suicidal ideation or other mental health outcomes. This result was also true when investigating smartphones or social media specifically. Overall, as has been the case for previous media such as video games, concerns about screen time and mental health are not based in reliable data © 2021. American Psychological Association

Language: en

Keywords

Depression; Suicide; Adolescence; Social media; Smartphones