Cain, Jeff. “It’s Time To Confront Student Mental Health Issues Associated With Smartphones and Social Media.” The American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, vol. 82, no. 7, 2018, p. 6862. Web.
Cain makes the case that students’ usage of cell phones and social media is increasing the number of mental health problems they experience. He emphasizes the detrimental impacts of excessive screen usage and social networking use on students’ learning performance and mental health.
Cain backs up his assertions with several studies and polls that show a direct link between social media and smartphone use and conditions like sadness and anxiety. He also explains how universities and colleges have addressed this issue with programs and regulations. By offering a potential explanation for the growth in mood disorder indicators and outcomes associated with suicide within the young adult demographics in recent years, Cain’s work complements Twenge et al.’s paper. It also fits with research by Daniyal et al. that looks at the connection between smartphone use and college students’ physical and mental health.
Daniyal, Muhammad, et al. “The Relationship between Cellphone Usage on the Physical and Mental Well-being of University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 15, 2022, p. 9352. Web.
The article by Daniyal et al. explores the connection between smartphone use and college students’ physical and mental health. According to the study, students who used their cell phones excessively had more significant stress, anxiety, and melancholy levels (Daniyal et al.). Daniyal et al. back up their assertions with a cross-sectional survey that included 1,056 Pakistani university students.
To quantify smartphone use, stress, anxiety, depression, and physical symptoms, the study employed validated measures. The study’s weaknesses, however, are its reliance on self-reported data and the possibility of response bias. This article strengthens Cain’s claim by supplying more detailed information regarding the detrimental impacts of excessive smartphone usage on undergraduate and graduate students’ mental and physical health.
Twenge, Jean M., et al. “Age, Period, and Cohort Trends in Mood Disorder Indicators and Suicide-Related Outcomes in a Nationally Representative Dataset, 2005–2017.” Journal of Abnormal Psychology, vol. 128, no. 3, 2019, pp. 185-199. Web.
In this research, Twenge et al. examine changes in indicators of mood disorder and suicide-related outcomes among young people in the United States between 2005 and 2017. According to the study, girls and young women had much higher rates of despair and suicidal thoughts. According to Twenge et al., there may be a connection between the growth in mood disorders and suicide-related outcomes and several cultural and technical issues, including smartphone reliance and social media use.
Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which polled more than 600,000 adults and adolescents nationwide from 2005 to 2017, is used by Twenge et al. to support their assertions. Its sample size and longitudinal nature increase the study’s credibility. This article supports Cain’s argument by providing more detailed insights into how smartphone use differently affects various groups, shedding light on gender differences in depression and suicidal ideation.