Young adolescents who spent more time online experienced increases in conduct problems and problems with self-regulation 18 months later.

‘Young adolescents who spent more time online experienced increases in conduct problems and problems with self-regulation -- the ability to control one's behavior and emotions -- 18 months later.’

The research, published in the journal Child Development, looked at associations between adolescents' mental health symptoms and how much time they spent each day texting, using social media and using the internet. 




For the study, 151 young adolescents completed surveys on smartphones about their daily digital technology use.
They were surveyed three times a day for a month and were assessed for mental health symptoms 18 months later.
The youth participating were between 11 and 15 years old. The adolescents spent an average of 2.3 hours a day using digital technologies.
The researchers found that on days when adolescents used their devices more -- both when they exceeded their own normal use and when they exceeded average use by their peers -- they were more likely to experience conduct problems such as lying, fighting and other behavioural problems.
Advertisement
The study also found that young adolescents who spent more time online experienced increases in conduct problems and problems with self-regulation -- the ability to control one's behavior and emotions -- 18 months later.
Advertisement
Source-IANS