Association of Screen Time and Depression in Adolescence

LiveMore ScreenLess’ Summary

If you’ve ever felt worse about yourself after extended periods of screen time, you aren’t alone. A 2019 study found that increasing television/streaming or social media use by a mere 1 hour in a given week intensified symptoms of depression among adolescents, especially in cases of pre-existing depression. These individuals also tended to report decreased levels of self-esteem. Researchers explain this with a number of hypotheses, including Upward Social Comparison: lower levels of self-esteem are typically reported when adolescents compare themselves to others whom they believe are better off in some way (e.g. after encountering a peer’s Facebook profile with high activity). 

These findings may also be explained by Reinforcing Spirals, which suggests that if people are more likely to seek out content that is congruent with their own beliefs, then adolescents with depression may actively seek out depressive content. Considering the prevalence of “thought bubbles” that many vulnerable internet users have been filtered into by digital algorithms, these spirals may also occur passively. To prevent the development and/or intensification of depressive symptoms, authors recommend that screen time be regulated for adolescents.

Elroy Boers, PhD; Mohammad H. Afzali, PhD; Nicola Newton, PhD; Patricia Conrod, PhD. Association of Screen Time and Depression in Adolescence. JAMA Pediatrics. 2019.