Longitudinal Effects of Adolescent Digital Media Use on Mental Health in Young Adulthood

Research on the relationship between digital media use in adolescence and mental health outcomes in young adulthood remains unclear. This study aims to (1) assess how trajectories of digital media use from adolescence to young adulthood predict mental health outcomes and (2) identify factors in adolescence that contribute to digital media use trajectories.

Participants (M_age = 15.53 years; 56.86% female; 66.89% White) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health database provided digital media use data across Waves I-IV. At Wave I, participants self-reported parental support, family connectedness, face-to-face interactions with peers, and self-esteem. At Wave IV, participants self-reported anxiety and depression diagnoses, depressive symptomology, suicidal ideation and attempts, and short-term and working memory. General linear and logistic regression models assessed the relationships.

Four trajectory groups emerged: Group 1 "increase" (9.97%), Group 2 "low" (73.36%), Group 3 "decrease" (13.94%), and Group 4 "high" (2.73%). Individuals in Group 4 experienced decreased short-term memory compared to individuals in Group 2. The odds of a suicide attempt in the past 12 months were significantly higher for individuals in Groups 3 and 4 compared to Group 2.

Patterns of digital media use from adolescence to young adulthood may contribute to suicide attempts and short-term memory in young adulthood, highlighting the need for interventions to reduce screen time. Non-significant findings highlight the need for additional research aimed at clarifying these relationships and identifying factors in early adolescence that may contribute to digital media use trajectories.