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Cited by 161Impact of Technology on AdolescentsChild Development and Digital TechnologyPhysical Activity and Health

Is screen time associated with anxiety or depression in young people? Results from a UK birth cohort

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Khouja, Jasmine N., Munafò, Marcus R., Tilling, Kate, Wiles, Nicola J., Joinson, Carol, Etchells, Peter J., John, Ann, Hayes, Fiona M. +2 more·2019·BMC Public Health
DOI 10.1186/s12889-018-6321-9PMC PMC6337855
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is limited and conflicting evidence for associations between use of screen-based technology and anxiety and depression in young people. We examined associations between screen time measured at 16 years and anxiety and depression at 18. METHODS: Participants (n = 14,665; complete cases n = 1869) were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a UK-based prospective cohort study. We assessed associations between various types of screen time (watching television, using a computer, and texting, all measured via questionnaire at 16y), both on weekdays and at weekends, and anxiety and depression (measured via the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule at 18y). Using ordinal logistic regression, we adjusted for multiple confounders, particularly focussing on activities that might have been replaced by screen time (for example exercising or playing outdoors). RESULTS: More time spent using a computer on weekdays was associated with a small increased risk of anxiety (OR for 1-2 h = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.35; OR for 3+ hours = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.55, both compared to < 1 h, p for linear trend = 0.003). We found a similar association between computer use at weekends and anxiety (OR for 1-2 h = 1.17, 95% CI: 0.94 to 1.46; OR for 3+ hours = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.48, p for linear trend = 0.03). Greater time spent using a computer on weekend days only was associated with a small increased risk in depression (OR for 1-2 h = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.93 to 1.35; OR for 3+ hours = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.65, p for linear trend = 0.003). Adjusting for time spent alone attenuated effects for anxiety but not depression. There was little evidence for associations with texting or watching television. CONCLUSIONS: We found associations between increased screen time, particularly computer use, and a small increased risk of anxiety and depression. Time spent alone was found to attenuate some associations, and further research should explore this.

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  • Fourteen studies identified in this systematic scoping review measured both ST and GT.

    “Fourteen studies identified in this systematic scoping review measured both ST and GT [234–238, 242–250].”

    From Psychological impacts of “screen time” and “green time” for children and adolescents: A systematic scoping review (2020) · cites this paper as [238]

    The Methods > Measures section (page unavailable) confirms that this cohort study measured screen time through questions about television, computer use, and texting. It does not report measuring GT, so the citation supports only the ST part of the claim. The count of fourteen studies belongs to the citing review, not this individual study. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • A Canadian study found a significant positive relationship between screen time and levels of anxiety and depression among students, particularly with computer use and video gaming, but not with television viewing.

    “A Canadian study found a significant positive relationship between screen time and levels of anxiety and depression among students, particularly with computer use and video gaming, but not with television viewing (3).”

    From Relationship of screen time with anxiety, depression, and sleep quality among adolescents: a cross-sectional study (2024) · cites this paper as [3]

    The Results and Discussion report a small positive association between computer use and anxiety and depression, with little evidence of an association for television viewing. But the Methods identify a UK cohort recruited around Bristol, England, not a Canadian study; the screen-time measures cover television, computer use and texting, not video gaming. The depression association was strongest for weekend computer use, and the anxiety association weakened after adjustment for time spent alone. (LLM, conf=0.91)

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  • There was a small positive association between computer use at age 16 and anxiety and depression two years later.

    “There was a small positive association between computer use at age 16 and anxiety and depression two years later in one study [71].”

    From The associations between screen time and mental health in adolescents: a systematic review (2023) · cites this paper as [71]

  • There was a small positive association between time spent using the computer on both weekdays and weekend days at baseline and subsequent anxiety symptoms.

    “One study reported a small positive association between time spent using the computer (on both weekdays and weekend days) at baseline and subsequent anxiety symptoms (Khouja et al., 2019).”

    From The relationship between screen time and mental health in young people: A systematic review of longitudinal studies (2021) · cites this paper as Khouja et al., 2019

  • There was no association between mobile phone use and subsequent anxiety symptoms.

    “One study reported no association between these variables (Khouja et al., 2019)”

    From The relationship between screen time and mental health in young people: A systematic review of longitudinal studies (2021) · cites this paper as Khouja et al., 2019

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  1. [26]Wechsler D The Wechsler intelligence scale for children—third edition 1992 3 San Antonio TX

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Authors
Khouja, J. N., Munafò, M. R., Tilling, K., Wiles, N. J., Joinson, C., Etchells, P. J., John, A., Hayes, F. M., Gage, S. H., & Cornish, R. P.
Affiliations
  • University of Bristol (GB)
  • Bath Spa University (GB)
  • Swansea University (GB)
  • University of Liverpool (GB)
Corresponding author
Khouja, Jasmine N.
ORCID
Venue
BMC Public Health
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2019-01-17
Volume
19
Issue
1
Pages
82-82
ISSN
1471-2458 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s12889-018-6321-9
PMC
PMC6337855
OpenAlex
W2914648011
Cited by
161
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 4
FWCI
42.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Space (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Medical Research Council (102215/2/13/2, MM_UU_12013/6)
  • Wellcome Trust (102215/2/13/2, 105612/Z/14/Z)
  • Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research (105612/Z/14/Z)
  • University of Bristol (105612/Z/14/Z)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
Keywords
screen time, computer use, anxiety, depression, youth, adolescents, television viewing, text messaging, time spent alone, Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, mental health, sedentary behavior, digital technology use, self-esteem
MeSH terms
Screen Time, Adolescent, Anxiety, Computers, Depression, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Male, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Time Factors

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