Pediatrics

Early adolescent smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and sleep problems

December 4, 2025

A U.S. cohort study of 10,588 participants from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study found that smartphone ownership at age 12 was associated with higher odds of depression (odds ratio [OR], 1.31), obesity (OR, 1.40), and insufficient sleep (OR, 1.62) compared with non-ownership. Ownership at an even earlier age was associated with greater risk of obesity and insufficient sleep. Among youth who didn’t own smartphones at age 12 years, those who acquired one by age 13 years had greater odds of clinical-level psychopathology (OR, 1.57) and insufficient sleep (OR, 1.50) compared with those who remained non-owners. Associations persisted after adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic factors, other device ownership, pubertal development, and parental monitoring.

Clinical takeaway: Consider discussing timing of smartphone acquisition and monitoring strategies with families of early adolescents, particularly given associations with mental health, sleep, and metabolic outcomes.

Source:

Barzilay R, et al. (2025, December 1). Pediatrics. Smartphone Ownership, Age of Smartphone Acquisition, and Health Outcomes in Early Adolescence. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41324306/