Can’t put the cellphone down and finding it harder to get to sleep at night? That’s not mere coincidence, according to new research out of Sweden that finds young adults who are heavy users of mobile phones and computers run a greater risk of sleep disturbances.
Intensive use of personal technology can also boosts stress and mental health problems, say University of Gothenburg investigators.
"Public health advice should therefore include information on the healthy use of this technology," said lead researcher Sara Thomée from the university’s Sahlgrenska Academy.
Thomée and her colleagues based their conclusions on four different studies examining how the use of computers and mobile phones affects the mental health of young adults. The studies involved surveys of 4,100 people (aged 20-24 years) and interviews with 32 young heavy personal-technology users.
Overall, researchers found the individuals with the most intensive use of mobile phones and computers had highest levels of stress, sleep disorders and depressive symptoms.
"We looked at the effects both quantitatively and qualitatively and followed up the volunteers a year on," explains Thomée. "The conclusion is that intensive use of [technology] can have an impact on mental health among young adults."
Among the other findings:
• People who find the constant accessibility via mobile phones to be stressful are most likely to report mental health symptoms;
• Late night computer use, or frequent use without a break, increases the risk of stress, sleeping problems depressive symptoms in men and women; and
• A combination of heavy computer use and intensive cellphone use makes the association even stronger.