Study Highlights Link Between Too Much Screen Time and Depression in Teenagers

According to a new study excessive screen time among adolescents negatively impacts multiple aspects of sleep, which in turn increases the risk of depressive symptoms — particularly among girls. The findings are published in the journal PLOS Global Public Health.

In the new study, researchers tracked 4,810 Swedish students aged 12-16, collecting data on sleep quality and quantity, depressive symptoms, and screen usage at three time points over the course of a year.

The researchers found that increased screen time led to deteriorated sleep within three months, impacting both the duration and quality of sleep. Screen time was also found to postpone sleep times towards later hours – disrupting multiple aspects of the human sleep-wake cycle at once. Among boys, screen time had a direct adverse effect on depression after twelve months, while among girls the depressive effect was mediated through sleep disturbances. Sleep could explain about half (38%-57%) of the association between screen time and depression in girls. Boys who spent more time on screens also experienced sleep disruptions, but these were not strongly associated to later depression.

The authors summarize: “In this study, we found that adolescents who reported longer screen times also developed poorer sleep habits over time. In turn, this led to increased depression levels, especially among girls.”

Reference: Hökby S, Alvarsson J, Westerlund J, Carli V, Hadlaczky G (2025) Adolescents’ screen time displaces multiple sleep pathways and elevates depressive symptoms over twelve months. PLOS Glob Public Health 5(4): e0004262. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004262