Sociodemographic differences in time-specific smartphone use among a national sample of adolescents.

Abstract

Screen use among U.S. adolescents is ubiquitous. There is a lack of information on sociodemographic differences in time-specific usage patterns using objective measures of screen use. We examined sociodemographic differences in objectively measured time-specific smartphone use among a national, diverse sample of 233 U.S. adolescents (13-18 y; M ± SD = 15.9 ± 1.3; 46% female, 6% other gender). Participants self-reported sociodemographic characteristics, then installed a passive sensing meter on their smartphones for ≥3 days to monitor smartphone activity, including application use, duration, and timing. Multiple linear regression examined differences in smartphone usage patterns by sociodemographic factors. In fully adjusted analyses, teens who were LGBTQIA+ versus non-LGBTQIA+ (24 hr use: +0.94 h/day; evening use, 20:00-22:59: +0.22 h/evening; nighttime use, 23:00-5:59: +0.39 h/night), with less parental education (nighttime use: +0.37 h/night), and with no parental screen use limits (24 hr use: +1.24 h/day; evening use: +0.24 h/evening; nighttime use: +0.34 h/night) had greater smartphone use. This national study demonstrated that LGBTQIA+ adolescents and those with lower parental education may be at heightened risk for excessive screen use with possible impacts on wellbeing. Parental restrictions on screen use are potentially modifiable markers of youth smartphone use. IMPACT: The present study examined levels of objectively measured smartphone use among a national, diverse sample of adolescents. Our findings have broad public health implications for American adolescents. We demonstrated that adolescents who were LGBTQIA+ and those with lower parental education had higher levels of smartphone use, with potential for both beneficial and harmful impacts on health and well-being. Moreover, parental restrictions on screen use are important potential targets to help reduce smartphone use among U.S. youth.