A recent study by Sapien Labs (an international research organization dedicated to studying and improving human mental health), conducted by scientists from the United States and India, conducted a detailed survey on the mental health of teenagers and the impact of smartphones on their overall happiness.
This report assessed the mental health of 10,475 adolescents in the United States and India in 2024, showing that the mental health of Gen Z adolescents is on the decline.
Increased feelings of aggression, anger, and hallucinations, especially in young adolescents, have been linked to early exposure to smartphones.
According to research, teenagers who use phones early have poorer mental health than older people.
Impact on mental health of 13 year olds
The report found that young people have much poorer mental health than older age groups. Worryingly, 13-year-olds have worse mental health than older ones, such as 17-year-olds.
About 56% of 13-17 year olds are experiencing psychological difficulties, which affects their ability to cope with life and work effectively.
Meanwhile, less than 20% of adults aged 55 and over experience similar problems.
The decline in mental health is particularly pronounced among girls, with the decline worsening from age 17 to 13 in both the United States and India. Accordingly, 48% of boys aged 13 to 17 reported mental health difficulties, compared to 65% of girls.
Mental health crisis in teens
Mental health is a major issue for adolescents, especially those under the age of 13. Research shows that, in both the United States and India, adolescents face feelings of sadness, fear, and guilt. About 50% of them say these negative emotions cause major problems, disrupting their daily activities.
Smartphones contribute to teenagers becoming immersed in these devices for long periods of time, leading to a sense of detachment from reality.
While sadness, anxiety, and guilt are the more obvious effects, there are also less well-known but equally dangerous consequences, such as feelings of aggression, anger, hallucinations, and irritability.
These problems were particularly pronounced in 13-year-olds, who were 20% more likely to experience hallucinations and 40% more likely to report aggression, hostility, and irritability than their older peers.
