Longitudinal association between smartphone ownership and depression among schoolchildren under COVID-19 pandemic.

Authors :: Adachi M
Takahashi M
Shinkawa H
Mori H
Nishimura T
Nakamura K
Source :: Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology [Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol] 2022 Feb; Vol. 57 (2), pp. 239-243. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Nov 12.
Publication Year :: 2022
Abstract: Under the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns regarding prolonged screen time and mental health effects in children have increased. We examined the association of depression with smartphone ownership in school children at four time points: September 2019, July 2020, December 2020, and March 2021. The analysis revealed an interaction between group and time, indicating that depressive symptoms among smartphone owners were significantly more severe than in the other group. These results were clearer for fourth-year students, pointing that smartphone possession at younger ages may be a risk factor for mental health in the new lifestyle caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.<br /> (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Subjects :: Child
Depression epidemiology
Humans
Ownership
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Smartphone

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