Addictive Screen Use May Be Linked to Poor Mental Health in Preteens: Study Finds

Addictive use of social media, mobile phones, and video games- but not overall screen time- is associated with worsening mental health and increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among preteens, according to a new study published in JAMA.

Concerns have grown in recent years about the effects of screen exposure on children and adolescents, especially amid rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal behavior. This new study, involving nearly 4,300 children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, looked at signs of addictive behavior, such as compulsive use that interferes with daily life, and how those patterns evolved over four years starting at age 8.

The researchers tracked children’s use of social media, mobile phones, and video games, and assessed how their screen use aligned with behaviors commonly linked to addiction. These included statements like “I play video games so I can forget about my problems,” or “I feel the need to use social media apps more and more.” Based on responses, the team identified usage patterns and linked them to mental health data, including suicidal ideation and behaviors.

Children with high or increasingly addictive use of social media or mobile phones had two to three times greater risk of suicidal behaviors than their peers with low addictive use. Notably, total screen time alone showed no association with mental health outcomes.

“Policy efforts should move away from generic limits on screen time and instead focus on identifying and addressing addictive patterns of screen use,” said lead author Yunyu Xiao, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medicine.

Reference: Xiao Y, Meng Y, Brown TT, Keyes KM, Mann JJ. Addictive Screen Use Trajectories and Suicidal Behaviors, Suicidal Ideation, and Mental Health in US Youths. JAMA. Published online June 18, 2025. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.7829