Latest news with #MindHealthQuotient
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Smartphones before 13? Study warns of long-term mental health issues
Children who start using smartphones before the age of 13 may be at a higher risk of developing mental health issues as young adults, says a new study published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. The study is based on analysis of data from the Global Mind Project, which has surveyed nearly two million people across 163 countries. What does the study say? Researchers from the Sapien Labs mapped the data on young adults using the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ), a self-assessment tool that measures social, emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being, to generate an overall mental health score. The study revealed a striking pattern - the earlier a person received their first smartphone, the worse their mental health outcomes tended to be by early adulthood. A key finding shows that younger age groups have worse mental health than older ones, with 41 per cent of individuals in the 18–34 age group experiencing issues that seriously affect their daily lives Forty-eight per cent of females aged 18–24 who got a smartphone at age five or six report having suicidal thoughts. In comparison, only 28 per cent of females who got a smartphone at age 13 report the same. For males, 31 per cent who got a phone at age five or six report suicidal thoughts. This dropped to 20 per cent for those who got a phone at 13. Age of access to social media accounted for about 40 per cent of the overall association between age of smartphone ownership and mental health. The study also observed that in English-speaking countries, young adults got access to smartphones and social media earlier than those in Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. On average, they received their first smartphone at age 11, compared to 14–16 in other regions. Mental health red flags The research found that early users are more likely to experience: Suicidal thoughts Low self-worth Social withdrawal Aggressive behaviour Children who began using smartphones at a young age were also more likely to feel disconnected from others and reported difficulty forming meaningful relationships. The data shows that getting a smartphone before age 13 often leads to earlier use of social media, despite age restrictions. This early access is linked to higher chances of cyberbullying, sexual abuse, weaker family bonds, and poor sleep. The experts also note that while the Covid-19 pandemic may have amplified this association, the consistency of these trends across global regions points to a broader developmental impact of early smartphone access. Why timing matters Experts believe that early adolescence is a sensitive period for brain development. Excessive screen time, especially on social media and messaging apps, may interfere with learning real-world social cues and coping mechanisms. Overstimulation, cyberbullying, and unrealistic social comparisons could all be contributing factors to the observed mental health issues. Dr Tara Thiagarajan, lead author of the study, warned that the earlier children are immersed in digital environments, the greater the risk of psychological disruption down the line. If more children keep getting smartphones and using social media at younger ages, the impact could be serious. Projections suggest that this trend alone may cause mental health issues in nearly one-third of the next generation. A call for digital boundaries The study says that limiting smartphone and social media use during childhood could have major benefits- It may reduce serious mental health issues in up to 8.5 per cent of young people. It could lower the rate of suicidal thoughts by up to 20 per cent. It may also improve emotional resilience and self-confidence in around 12 per cent of the younger population. Proposed policy measures- 1. Mandatory digital literacy and mental health education Introduce compulsory lessons in schools covering online safety, cyberbullying, algorithm awareness, and predator risks. This prepares children for responsible social media use and builds digital confidence. 2. Enforce age rules and hold tech companies accountable Ensure tech platforms follow age restrictions through better verification and penalties for violations. Like tobacco or alcohol regulations, corporate responsibility can reduce harm and ease pressure on parents. 3. Restrict social media for people under 13 Strictly enforce age 13+ rules on social platforms by blocking access on devices used by children. While verification and monitoring are challenges, this reinforces existing legal limits. 4. Limit smartphone access with safer alternatives Delay personal smartphone access and offer basic 'kid-friendly' phones without social media or addictive content to meet communication and learning needs without the risks. Enforcement may be difficult, but the long-term benefits are significant. What parents can do Parents and guardians play a key role in shaping digital habits. Here are some ways to protect young minds: Delay giving a smartphone until the teen years Encourage outdoor play and face-to-face social activities Set daily screen time limits Talk openly about online experiences and feelings Use parental controls and monitor app usage Experts recommend delaying smartphone access until ages 14 to 18, encouraging more face-to-face interactions, and promoting screen-free routines at home and in schools.
UPI
7 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Early smartphone access harms developing minds, study warns
Early exposure to toxic social media explains much of the link between young smartphone access and poorer mental health, researchers said. Other contributing factors may include cyberbullying, disrupted sleep and poor family relationships. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio/ Pexels July 22 (UPI) -- Care about your kid's well being? Then best not give them a smartphone until they're a full-fledged teenager, a major new study says. Kids given a smartphone when they were younger than 13 tend to have poorer mental health and well-being, researchers report in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. Specifically, people between 18 and 24 who got their first smartphone at 12 or younger had higher odds of suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation and low self-worth, researchers report. Early exposure to toxic social media explains much of the link between young smartphone access and poorer mental health, researchers said. Other contributing factors may include cyberbullying, disrupted sleep and poor family relationships. "Our data indicate that early smartphone ownership- and the social media access it often brings - is linked with a profound shift in mind health and wellbeing in early adulthood," says lead researcher Tara Thiagarajan, chief scientist of Sapien Labs, said in a news release. "I was initially surprised by how strong the results are," she said. "However, when you give it due consideration, it does begin to make sense that the younger developing mind is more compromised by the online environment given their vulnerability and lack of worldly experience." For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 100,000 young adults around the world as part of the Global Mind Project, an ongoing research effort aimed at assessing the effects of modern society on mental health. Each of the participants filled out a questionnaire to help determine their Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) - a measurement of their social, emotional, cognitive and physical well-being. The team focused on members of Generation Z born between 1997 and 2012 who were the first to grow up with smartphones and social media from early childhood. Results show that young adults who got their first smartphone before becoming teens had lower MHQ scores than those who got a phone later. In addition, the younger a person got their first smartphone, the worse their mental health and overall well-being, researchers said. For example, about half (48%) of girls who got a smartphone at age 5 or 6 report suicidal thoughts, compared with 28% who got a smartphone at 13, the study says. Girls who got smartphones at a young age were more likely to have diminished self-image, self-worth and confidence, as well as less emotional resilience, researchers found. Meanwhile, boys were more likely to have lower stability, self-worth and empathy. Looking into potential causes, researchers found that early access to social media explains about 40% of the link between earlier smartphone ownership and poorer mental health in young adulthood. The results bolster growing concerns regarding how AI-driven social media algorithms amplify harmful content and encourage children to compare their lives to those of apparently happier and better-off influencers, researchers argue. Poor family relationships (13%), disrupted sleep (12%) and cyberbullying (10%) also contributed to the link, the study says. "Based on these findings, and with the age of first smartphones now well under age 13 across the world, we urge policymakers to adopt a precautionary approach, similar to regulations on alcohol and tobacco, by restricting smartphone access for under 13s, mandating digital literacy education and enforcing corporate accountability," Thiagarajan said. Several countries have already banned or restricted cell phone use in schools, including France, the Netherlands, Italy and New Zealand, researchers noted. In the U.S., Alabama, Arkansas, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma and West Virginia have passed legislation requiring schools to limit or ban smartphones, researchers added. "Our evidence suggests childhood smartphone ownership, an early gateway into AI-powered digital environments, is profoundly diminishing mind health and well-being in adulthood with deep consequences for individual agency and societal flourishing," Thiagarajan said. "That said, I think it is also important to point out that smartphones and social media are not the only assault to mental health and crisis facing younger adults," she said. "It explains some of the overall decline but not all of it." The study can't draw a direct cause-and-effect link between early smartphone access and poorer mental health as a young adult, researchers noted. More research is needed to confirm this link and explore its causes. "Now, while more research is needed to unravel the causal mechanisms, waiting for irrefutable proof in the face of these population-level findings unfortunately risks missing the window for timely, preventative action," Thiagarajan said. More information Johns Hopkins Medicine has more on social media and children's mental health. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Gulf Today
22-07-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Smartphones before the age of 13 may raise suicidal thoughts, aggression risk in youth: Study
Children who own a smartphone before the age of 13 are more likely to experience poorer mental health and well-being in early adulthood, according to a global study of more than 100,000 young people released on Monday. The study, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, found that 18- to 24-year-olds who had received their first smartphone at age 12 or younger were more likely to report suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and low self-worth. Smartphones give early social media access and increase the risks of cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships by adulthood, the team said. "Our data indicates that early smartphone ownership -- and the social media access it often brings -- is linked with a profound shift in mental health and well-being in early adulthood," said lead author neuroscientist Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, the founder and Chief Scientist of US-based Sapien Labs. Thiagarajan called for urgent action to protect the mental health of future generations, as their symptoms are not the traditional depression and anxiety, and can be missed by studies using standard screening procedures. The researchers urged policymakers to adopt a precautionary approach, similar to regulations on alcohol and tobacco, by restricting smartphone access for under-13s. They also called for mandating digital literacy education and enforcing corporate accountability. In recent years, several countries have banned or restricted the use of cell phones in institutions, including France, the Netherlands, Italy, and New Zealand. Several states in the US have also passed legislation requiring schools to have policies that at least limit access to smartphones for children. For the study, the team at Sapiens mapped the data on 100,000 young adults using the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) -- a self-assessment tool that measures social, emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being -- to generate an overall mental health score. Young adults who received their first smartphone before age 13 had lower MHQ scores, with scores progressively declining the younger the age of first ownership. Younger ownership was also linked with diminished self-image, self-worth, and confidence, and emotional resilience among females, and lower stability, calmness, self-worth, and empathy among males. "Our evidence suggests that childhood smartphone ownership, an early gateway into AI-powered digital environments, is profoundly diminishing mental health and well-being in adulthood, with deep consequences for individual agency and societal flourishing," Thiagarajan said. Indo-Asian News Service
NDTV
21-07-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Early Smartphone Use Linked To Suicidal Thoughts, Aggression In Youth: Study
New Delhi: Children who own a smartphone before the age of 13 are more likely to experience poorer mental health and well-being in early adulthood, according to a global study of more than 100,000 young people released on Monday. The study, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, found that 18- to 24-year-olds who had received their first smartphone at age 12 or younger were more likely to report suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and low self-worth. Smartphones give early social media access and increase the risks of cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships by adulthood, the team said. "Our data indicates that early smartphone ownership -- and the social media access it often brings -- is linked with a profound shift in mental health and well-being in early adulthood," said lead author neuroscientist Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, the founder and Chief Scientist of US-based Sapien Labs. Thiagarajan called for urgent action to protect the mental health of future generations, as their symptoms are not the traditional depression and anxiety, and can be missed by studies using standard screening procedures. The researchers urged policymakers to adopt a precautionary approach, similar to regulations on alcohol and tobacco, by restricting smartphone access for under-13s. They also called for mandating digital literacy education and enforcing corporate accountability. In recent years, several countries have banned or restricted the use of cell phones in institutions, including France, the Netherlands, Italy, and New Zealand. Several states in the US have also passed legislation requiring schools to have policies that at least limit access to smartphones for children. For the study, the team at Sapiens mapped the data on 100,000 young adults using the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) -- a self-assessment tool that measures social, emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being -- to generate an overall mental health score. Young adults who received their first smartphone before age 13 had lower MHQ scores, with scores progressively declining the younger the age of first ownership. Younger ownership was also linked with diminished self-image, self-worth, and confidence, and emotional resilience among females, and lower stability, calmness, self-worth, and empathy among males. "Our evidence suggests that childhood smartphone ownership, an early gateway into AI-powered digital environments, is profoundly diminishing mental health and well-being in adulthood, with deep consequences for individual agency and societal flourishing," Thiagarajan said.
