Associations between smartphone use and mental health and well-being among young Swiss men

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric research 2022-12, Vol.156, p.602-610
• Main Authors: Studer, Joseph, Marmet, Simon, Wicki, Matthias, Khazaal, Yasser, Gmel, Gerhard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Cohort study on substance-use risk factors (C-SURF); Humans; Mental Health; Smartphone; Social Capital; Well-being; Young adults
• ISSN: 0022-3956; 1879-1379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.10.036

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. 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. 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). 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.