Smartphone addiction tied to increased anxiety in young females: Study

New Delhi: Excessive smartphone use is more likely to cause heightened social anxiety among young females compared to other genders, according to a new study presented at the European Psychiatric Association Congress 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

The research revealed that gender plays a significant role in both excessive and problematic smartphone use defined as psychological or behavioural dependence with young females being more vulnerable to social anxiety. The study also linked gender to increased time spent on smartphones and heightened fear of negative judgment in online interactions.

“These results point to serious differences between genders in that females are much more likely to suffer mental ill health at the hands of a smartphone,” said lead investigator Dr. Csibi Sandor from George Emil Palade University of Medicine in Romania.

The researchers noted that problematic smartphone use also affects emotional understanding, social interactivity, and the perception of social support. These factors may contribute to the higher levels of anxiety observed among young females.

“It is important that these areas are further researched so we can work to build our understanding of these behavioural differences between genders and what methods need to be put in place to support these individuals,” Dr. Sandor emphasized.

The study, which surveyed 400 young adults with an average age of 25.9, included 104 men, 293 women, and three individuals of another gender. The findings suggest that women not only spend more time on smartphones but also face greater mental health risks due to social expectations and pressures online.

Co-author Neha Pirwani from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary highlighted the need for targeted support for young females. “Our findings add to previous studies showing that females can face increased suffering and, therefore, need additional attention, guidance, and help compared with other genders, to identify problematic smartphone use and what this may lead to,” Pirwani said. “Our continued work to further understand the causes and effects of this is key to addressing these issues amongst the younger generation.”

With nearly 100% of Generation Z owning and using smartphones, the potential risks are a growing concern. European Psychiatric Association President Professor Geert Dom noted that prior research, including cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, has already implicated smartphone and social media use in rising mental distress, self-harming behaviour, and suicidality among young people.

“This is an area that must be given further attention so that any detrimental areas can be addressed quickly,” Dom added.

With IANS inputs