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Stockholm: Heavy use of mobile phones and computers can increase risk of sleep disturbances, stress and affect mental health.

"Public health advice should, therefore, include information on the healthy use of this technology," said researcher Sara Thomee from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

Doctoral student Sara Thomee and her research colleagues have conducted four different studies looking at how the use of computers and mobile phones affects the mental health of young adults.

These studies, which included questionnaires for 4,100 people aged 20-24 and interviews with 32 young heavy ICT (information and communication technologies) users, reveal that intensive use of mobile phones and computers can be linked to stress, sleep disorders and depressive symptoms, according to a Gothenburg statement.

"We looked at the effects both quantitatively and qualitatively and followed up the volunteers a year on," says Thomee, who will present the results in her upcoming thesis.

"The conclusion is that intensive use of ICT can have an impact on mental health among young adults," said Thomee.

For example,the study reveals that heavy mobile use is linked to an increase in sleeping problems in men and an increase in depressive symptoms in both men and women.

Thomee said, "Those who find the constant accessibility via mobile phones to be stressful are most likely to report mental symptoms.”

Frequently using a computer without breaks also increases the risk of stress, sleeping problems and depressive symptoms in women, whereas men who use computers intensively are more likely to develop sleeping problems.

"Regularly using a computer late at night is associated not only with sleep disorders but also with stress and depressive symptoms in both men and women," added Thomee.

A combination of both heavy computer use and heavy mobile use makes the association even stronger. One conclusion is that public health advice to young people should include information on how to use ICT in a healthy way.

"This means taking breaks, taking time to recover after intensive use, and putting limits on your availability,” added Thomee.

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