Those who significantly restrict daily smartphone use feel better. A relapse into old behavior patterns quickly leads to a deterioration in mental health with regard to stress, poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms. Lower Austrian researchers found this and published “BMC Medicine” in the journal “BMC Medicine”.
Specifically, 111 students took part in the study that a team led by Christoph Pieh, head of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at Krems University, with an average age of almost 23 years. The daily smartphone use of a group was limited to a maximum of two hours. A control group kept an average use of 4.5 hours.
Significantly less depressive symptoms
After three weeks there were light to medium effects. Depressive symptoms were reduced by 27 percent, stress decreased by 16 percent, the sleep quality increased by 18 percent and general well -being increased by 14 percent. “For the first time, we were able to show a causal connection between smartphone use and mental health,” Pieh is quoted.
However, the positive effects quickly failed as soon as the mobile phone usage rose again. During a follow -up examination, the values approached the starting level again. Sustainable behavioral change is therefore important.
Source: Nachrichten
