The way teenagers use their smartphones changes dramatically throughout high school, according to a new study that sheds light on the mental health and behavioral factors shaping their screen habits.
While most teens experience a temporary rise in problematic smartphone use, only a small group maintain consistently high levels over time—a pattern linked to depression, poor self-regulation, and fear of missing out.
A new study by Bowen Xiao and colleagues, published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology, explores the long-term patterns of smartphone use among Canadian adolescents and the psychological traits that predict who is most at risk of developing problematic habits.
The researchers found that while most teens see smartphone use increase during early high school years before declining again, about 4% exhibit consistently high use over a four-year period—suggesting a more entrenched behavioral issue that may need targeted intervention.
Problematic smartphone use refers to compulsive, excessive patterns of use that disrupt daily life—such as neglecting schoolwork, sleep, or social relationships.
Although smartphones offer valuable tools for communication and information, their misuse has raised increasing concerns among educators, parents, and mental health professionals, particularly during adolescence, a period marked by heightened social sensitivity and still-developing self-regulation.
The study tracked 2,549 students in grades 8 to 12 from five public schools in southern British Columbia, collecting annual data on their smartphone use, mental health, and behavioral traits over four years.
Participants were assessed for levels of self-regulation, depression, anxiety, and fear of missing out (FoMO)—the pervasive worry that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is excluded.
Using a statistical method called growth mixture modeling, the researchers identified three distinct patterns, or “trajectories,” of smartphone use.
The majority of adolescents (61%) followed a moderate-increasing pattern, where problematic use rose gradually over the study period.
Another 36% began with low use that initially increased but then declined by the final year. A small minority (3.6%) started and remained at high levels of problematic use throughout the study.
The most persistent pattern—the high-stable group—was significantly more likely to include teens who reported higher levels of depression and fear of missing out at the outset of the study.
In contrast, those with stronger self-regulation skills were less likely to follow this trajectory and more likely to fall into the group whose use declined over time.
These findings suggest that problematic smartphone use is not a fixed trait but a dynamic behavior that often changes across adolescence.
For most teens, the spike in smartphone dependency may reflect a temporary adjustment to the social and academic pressures of high school. Over time, many appear to adapt and regain balance in their digital habits.
But for a small group, the problem appears to persist—and it is in this group that mental health issues may play a driving role.
Adolescents struggling with depressive symptoms may turn to their phones as a form of emotional escape, while those experiencing high levels of FoMO may be more vulnerable to compulsively checking social media or messaging apps in an attempt to stay connected and avoid exclusion.
The role of self-regulation was particularly striking.
Teens who demonstrated greater ability to manage their emotions and behaviors were less likely to become stuck in high-use patterns, even when experiencing stress or peer pressure.
This highlights the potential value of teaching emotional regulation and time management skills as part of broader digital wellness programs in schools.
For parents, educators, and policymakers, the study offers a hopeful message: problematic smartphone use isn’t inevitable for teens—but the risk is real and not evenly distributed.
The findings support the development of early interventions that help adolescents manage screen time, particularly for those who may already be experiencing depression or strong social anxieties.
While the study offers important insights, the researchers also note some limitations. The findings are based on self-reported data, which may not always reflect actual smartphone behavior.
Objective measures such as digital usage logs could provide more accurate assessments in future studies. Additionally, factors like socioeconomic status, parental involvement, and peer influence were not included in the analysis but may also play critical roles.
Still, this longitudinal approach provides rare insight into how digital habits evolve during a formative period of development—and why some teens may need more support than others.
As digital devices become ever more integrated into daily life, understanding these usage patterns will be key to promoting healthier relationships with technology.
Citation
Xiao, B., Zhao, H., Hein-Salvi, C., Parent, N., & Shapka, J. D. Exploring the trajectories of problematic smartphone use in adolescence: Insights from a longitudinal study. British Journal of Developmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12570
