Health · Mental Health · 3 hrs ago
Twin study links recreational screen use with later mental health symptoms
Researchers followed nearly 22,000 twins in Sweden to study recreational screen use and mental health.
They tracked screen habits from age nine through adolescence and assessed emotional symptoms into early adulthood.
They also checked health records for anxiety or depression diagnoses and records of antidepressant dispensing.
Across the group, more screen use was associated with internalizing symptoms and later clinical records related to anxiety or depression.
These links were weaker when researchers compared twins in the same family who differed in screen use.
That suggests shared family or genetic factors may help explain the associations, rather than screen use alone.
The study does not establish that screen use causes mental health problems, but its findings may help shape evidence-based guidance for young people.
A study of 21,797 Swedish twins found associations between recreational screen use and internalizing symptoms and later clinical outcomes involving anxiety or depression.
Researchers assessed screen habits from age nine through adolescence and mental health symptoms into young adulthood.
Associations with internalizing symptoms were stronger in girls in cross-sectional analyses and weakened in comparisons between twins.
The findings suggest shared family factors contribute to the associations, but do not establish that screen use causes mental health problems.
- Who
- Researchers studying 21,797 twins in Sweden.
- What
- The study examined links between recreational screen use and mental health symptoms and clinical outcomes.
- When
- Screen use was assessed at ages nine, 15 and 18; symptoms were assessed through age 24. The article was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Sweden, using participants in the Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden.
- Why
- To examine how recreational screen habits relate to anxiety and depressive symptoms and later clinical outcomes.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Parents reported participants’ recreational screen habits and assessed anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Participants reported their screen habits and emotional symptoms.
Participants reported screen habits, and researchers assessed depression and anxiety symptoms.
Participants reported internalizing symptoms.
News-Medical published an article about the study.
- Study participants
- 21,797 Swedish twins
- Study cohort
- Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS)
- Age-nine follow-up
- 11.5% had a recorded anxiety or depression diagnosis and/or antidepressant dispensing by age 22
- Age-15 follow-up
- 17.7% had a recorded anxiety or depression diagnosis and/or antidepressant dispensing by age 28
- Publication date
- October 12, 2026
Sources
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