The Life in Media survey from the University of South Florida surveyed over 1,500 children aged 11 to 13, revealing that smartphone ownership is linked to better mental health outcomes. Nearly 78% of respondents owned smartphones, and those with devices reported lower levels of depression, anxiety, and cyber-bullying. Contrary to assumptions that affluent families dominate smartphone ownership, findings show that less affluent kids are more likely to have phones. Researchers hope these results will mitigate fears around children's smartphone use and its potential negative effects.
We thought that smartphone ownership would be associated with ill-being in a number of different cases ... We're hoping that our findings will bring down the temperature a little about fears surrounding kids and their smartphones.
Those who have their own smartphones fared better than kids who don't on nearly every measure of well-being assessed, reporting less depression and anxiety.
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