Smartphone Ownership in Young Adolescence Drives Physical and Emotional Health Risks

In a large national cohort of young adolescents, smartphone ownership at age 12 was associated with higher odds of depression, obesity, and insufficient sleep, according to a study published December 1 in Pediatrics. The analysis, based on 10,588 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, also found that younger age at device acquisition was associated with increasingly poor outcomes.

Researchers, led by Randy P Auerbach, PhD, Irving Phillips professor of child psychiatry in the department of psychiatry at Columbnia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, reported that at age 12, smartphone ownership (n = 6,739) vs not owning a smartphone (n = 3,849) was associated with a 30% increased risk for depression (odds ratio [OR] 1.31; 95% CI, 1.05–1.63), a 40% greater risk of obesity (OR 1.40; 95% CI, 1.20–1.63), and a more than 60% increased risk of getting insufficient sleep (OR 1.62; 95% CI, 1.46–1.79). Younger age at getting a smartphone increased certain health risks. For each earlier year of acquisition, the odds of obesity (OR 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02–1.16) and insufficient sleep (OR 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02–1.12) were higher.

The research team evaluated the associations using mixed-effects logistic regression models that were adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic factors, ownership of other digital devices, pubertal development, and parental monitoring. Caregivers reported both ownership status and age of first smartphone acquisition.

Smartphone Ownership Ubiquitous Among US Teens

Auerbach and colleagues emphasized the persistently growing concerns about the potential health implications of early smartphone use, partcularly given that smartphone ownership has become nearly universal among US adolescents. According to a 2024 survey by the Pew Research Center, 95% of teenagers aged 13–17 report having or having access to a smartphone.2 For younger children, ownership is more variable, although a 2025 Pew survey found that approximately 6 in 10 parents of 11‑ or 12‑year-olds say their child has their own smartphone.3

Health researchers have also raised concerns over mental well‑being associated with extensive smartphone or screen use in youth. For example, a recent large US‑based survey found that adolescents and young adults reporting 4 or more hours of daily screen time had elevated odds of depression, anxiety, behavior problems, and ADHD.4 Another study documented poorer sleep among adolescents who spent more time on smartphones, with effects particularly pronounced in girls.5

Accordingly, Auerbach and colleagues hypothesized that smartphone ownership, particularly at younger ages, would be associated with worse mental and physical health outcomes during a developmental period already characterized by increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorders and sleep disturbances.1

Findings at Age 13

In a secondary analysis, the investigators evaluated outcomes at age 13 among 3,486 youth who did not own a smartphone at age 12. They found that acquisition of a smartphone between ages 12 and 13 (n = 1,546) increased the odds of clinical-level psychopathology by nearly 60% (OR 1.57; 95% CI, 1.12–2.20) and insufficient sleep by 50% (OR 1.50; 95% CI, 1.26–1.77) vs not acquiring a device. These models controlled for baseline mental health and sleep. Results were consistent across sensitivity analyses.1

“We highlight the need for further research to better understand the adverse effects of smartphone ownership during the transition from childhood to adolescence," the authors concluded, reiterating that the period is already marked by a heightened risk for psychiatric and a variety of health discorders. They added that the findings may help inform caregivers and contribute to discussions around public policies intended to protect youth.1

References

1. Barzilay R, Pimentel SD, Tran KT, Visoki E, Pagliaccio D, Auerbach RP. Smartphone ownership, age of smartphone acquisition, and health outcomes in early adolescence. Pediatrics. 2025;:e2025072941. doi: 10.1542/peds.2025-072941.

2. Faverio M, Sidoti O. Teens, social media and technology 2024. Pew Research Center. December 12, 2024. Accessed December 5, 2025. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/12/11/teens-social-media-and-technology-2023

3. McClain C, Sidoti O, Faverio M, Lama S. How parents manage screen time for kids. Pew Research Center. October 8, 2025. Accessed December 5, 2025. https://www.pewresearch.org/2025/10/08/how-parents-describe-their-kids-tech-use

4. Dai Y, Ouyang N. Excessive screen time is associated with mental health problems and ADHD in US children and adolescents: Physical activity and sleep as parallel mediators. arXiv 2025:2508. doi:/10.48550/arXiv.2508.10062

5. Maurya C, Muhammad T, Maurya P, Dhillon P. The association of smartphone screen time with sleep problems among adolescents and young adults: cross-sectional findings from India. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):1686. doi:10.1186/s12889-022-14076-x