Cited by 429Impact of Technology on AdolescentsChild Development and Digital TechnologyDigital Media and Philosophy

Media Use Is Linked to Lower Psychological Well-Being: Evidence from Three Datasets

Twenge, Jean M., Campbell, W. Keith·2019·Psychiatric Quarterly

Abstract

Adolescents spend a substantial and increasing amount of time using digital media (smartphones, computers, social media, gaming, Internet), but existing studies do not agree on whether time spent on digital media is associated with lower psychological well-being (including happiness, general well-being, and indicators of low well-being such as depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts). Across three large surveys of adolescents in two countries (n = 221,096), light users (<1 h a day) of digital media reported substantially higher psychological well-being than heavy users (5+ hours a day). Datasets initially presented as supporting opposite conclusions produced similar effect sizes when analyzed using the same strategy. Heavy users (vs. light) of digital media were 48% to 171% more likely to be unhappy, to be in low in well-being, or to have suicide risk factors such as depression, suicidal ideation, or past suicide attempts. Heavy users (vs. light) were twice as likely to report having attempted suicide. Light users (rather than non- or moderate users) were highest in well-being, and for most digital media use the largest drop in well-being occurred between moderate use and heavy use. The limitations of using percent variance explained as a gauge of practical impact are discussed.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s11126-019-09630-7

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Authors
Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K.
Affiliations
  • San Diego State University (US)
  • University of Georgia (US)
Corresponding author
Twenge, Jean M.
Venue
Psychiatric Quarterly
Published
2019-03-11
Volume
90
Issue
2
Pages
311-331
ISSN
  • 0033-2720 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-6709
OpenAlex
W2921374582
Cited by
429
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 79 · 2025: 81 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 56 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 8
FWCI
74.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychiatric Quarterly (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Science Applications › Digital Media and Philosophy
Keywords
digital media use, adolescents, psychological well-being, happiness, depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, social media, smartphone use, gaming, effect size interpretation
MeSH terms
Smartphone, Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Computers, Depression, Female, United Kingdom, Happiness, Humans, Male, Personal Satisfaction, Suicide, United States, Video Games, Internet, Social Media, Datasets as Topic

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