Smartphone use and addiction during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: cohort study on 184 Italian children and adolescents

Abstract

BackgroundThe lives of many children and adolescents are today increasingly influenced by new technological devices, including smartphones. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic occurred in a time of outstanding scientific progress and global digitalization. Young people had relevant adverse psychological and behavioral effects due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly related to infection control measures, which led them to spend more time at home and with major use of technological tools. The goal this study proposes is to evaluate health and social outcomes of smartphone overuse among Italian children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing patterns and aims of utilization, as well as the eventual presence and degree of addiction.MethodsThis study was based on a self-report and anonymous questionnaire, which was administered to 184 Italian school-age (6-18 years) children and adolescents during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The test was electronically (email, whatsapp) explained and sent by pediatricians either directly to older children (middle and high school), or indirectly, through the help of teachers, to younger ones (primary school). All participants spontaneously and voluntarily joined the present study. The survey was made by 4 sections, and designed to know and outline modalities (frequency, patterns and aims) of smartphone use, adverse outcomes, and related parental behaviors, also in order to reveal the eventual occurrence and degree of addiction. The same information, related to the pre-epidemic period, was also investigated and analyzed.ResultsThe data obtained revealed a significantly greater adhesion to the questionnaire by females, likely reflecting higher attention and interest than boys to initiatives relating to health education. Our study showed more frequent smartphone use among Italian children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the pre-epidemic period. This may be related to the social distancing measures adopted during the months under investigation. The present survey also outlined the changing patterns and aims in the use of smartphones among young people, which allowed to limit some effects of the crisis. Indeed, they were used for human connection, learning and entertainment, providing psychological and social support. Finally, it was observed a significant increase of overuse and addiction. This led to many clinical (sleep, ocular and musculoskeletal disorders), psychological (distraction, mood modification, loss of interest) and social (superficial approach to learning, isolation) unfavorable outcomes.ConclusionsPediatricians and health care professionals should be aware of the potential risks related to inappropriate use of smartphones. They should monitor, in cooperation with parents, possible associated adverse effects, in order to early recognize signs and symptoms suggestive, or at high risk, for addiction. They must carry out, as well, the necessary interventions to prevent and/or lower the detrimental impact of smartphone overuse on children and adolescents’ health, oriented to sustain adequate physical and psychological development as well as social relationships.

Smartphone Addiction and Depression among Low-Income Boys since COVID-19: The Moderating Effect of Being an Only Child

“…Moreover, parents of American children aged 2-13 years reported that their children's problematic media use had increased during the pandemic as compared to in Spring 2019 [16]. Rates of smartphone addiction also increased among Italian children and adolescents aged 6-18 years, with 31.5% of participants in one study at high risk of smartphone addiction and 26.1% with a documented smartphone addiction before the pandemic, compared to 27.2% of participants at high risk and 46.7% being addicted to their smartphone during the pandemic [11]. Smartphone addiction has also been found to be inversely associated with adolescents' perceived socioeconomic status [18].…”

“…Smartphone addiction is a common but growing issue among adolescents in South Korea [9], and studies in that country and others have shown that smartphone addiction and/or problematic smartphone use have increased among adolescents and adults since the COVID-19 pandemic [1,2,11,16,17]. South Korean fourth graders were more prone to smartphone addiction before COVID-19 than during [1].…”

“…Since COVID-19, middle and high school students have been less likely to meet their friends in person due to the risk of spreading coronavirus. Along with the reduced frequency of meeting with friends in person and the emergence of online classes since COVID-19, students may be more likely to become addicted to using their smartphone [1,2,11,16,17]. With reduced in person contact, they tend to be more isolated, leading to increased risk of depression.…”

“…Among South Korean fourth graders, the percentage of children who used a smartphone more than 1 hour per day increased during the pandemic [1]. Additionally, among Italian youth aged 6-18 years, the percentage of youth who reported using a smartphone for more than 4 hours a day increased by 50% (from 16.3% to 66.3%) during the pandemic [11].…”

“…With modern adolescents in many countries having access to their own smartphone, it is of interest to examine their use of such devices. Further, since the COVID-19 pandemic and during associated lockdowns, research has found that adolescents' use of smartphones has increased [1,11]. Among South Korean fourth graders, the percentage of children who used a smartphone more than 1 hour per day increased during the pandemic [1].…”