A new long-term study led by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine suggests that adolescents who spend consistently high amounts of time using digital media may face increased risks later in life—including poorer memory performance and a greater likelihood of suicide attempts in young adulthood.

The study, published in the journal Children, found that individuals who maintained heavy screen use throughout adolescence performed worse on short-term memory tests as adults. They were also more likely to report suicide attempts compared to peers who had low levels of screen exposure.

Unlike many previous studies that measure mental health and screen time at a single moment, this research focused on the long-term impact of screen habits over time.

“Much of the conversation around adolescent screen time focuses on how many hours teens spend on devices today,” said Caroline Watson, a clinical psychology doctoral candidate in UAB’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology. “Our findings suggest that it’s the cumulative pattern of heavy use across adolescence that matters more for certain outcomes later in life.”

Study Overview

Researchers analyzed data from more than 6,700 participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a federally funded, nationally representative dataset that tracked individuals from middle and high school into adulthood.

Using advanced statistical methods, the team identified four distinct screen-use patterns between the ages of 11 and 30:

• Low use, representing nearly 75% of participants
• Increasing use over time
• Decreasing use, which began high but gradually declined
• Consistently high use, representing fewer than 3% of participants, averaging 40–50 hours of screen time per week throughout adolescence

Key Findings

Young adults in the consistently high-use group showed significantly weaker short-term memory performance. Additionally, individuals in both the high-use and decreasing-use groups were more likely to report a suicide attempt within the past year compared to those in the low-use group.

However, the researchers also found that screen-time patterns did not significantly predict depression or anxiety diagnoses, depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, or some other measures of cognitive performance.

“These findings suggest a more nuanced relationship between digital media and mental health than is often portrayed,” Watson said. “Digital media use may be one of several contextual factors influencing development, rather than a direct cause of anxiety or depression.”

Why This Matters

The authors say the results raise important concerns about how prolonged screen exposure during critical developmental years may influence brain development and long-term well-being.

“Adolescence is a formative period for brain development and habit formation,” Watson said. “Understanding how long-term media habits intersect with mental health and cognition is essential as digital media becomes increasingly embedded in daily life.”

What Can Parents Do?

Watson encourages parents to help children establish healthy digital habits early by creating consistent routines and expectations around screen use.

“A consistent routine can look like limiting digital media use before bed or during meals,” Watson said.

She also emphasized the importance of parents modeling balanced behavior themselves.

“By being intentional about their own screen time and demonstrating healthy habits—such as putting devices away during conversations or shared family activities—parents can make a huge impact on their children,” Watson said.

Watson added that screen time should be considered alongside other important factors such as sleep, academic stress, peer relationships, and the overall home environment.

“Digital media use may be best considered as one part of a broader developmental picture, rather than the sole driver of outcomes,” Watson said.

Study Notes

The data used in the study was collected between 1994 and 2009, before smartphones and modern social media platforms became widespread. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health.