A new study has revealed that owning and regularly using a smartphone during the pre-teen years, particularly between the ages of 9 and 12, may be associated with several mental and physical health problems in children.
The research found that children who had a smartphone by the age of 12 were more likely to experience obesity, poor sleep and symptoms of depression.
The study, published in the journal Pediatrics by a team from the University of Pennsylvania, examined more than 10,000 twelve-year-old children, some of whom owned smartphones while others did not.
According to the study, children who owned a smartphone at age 12 faced a 31 percent higher risk of depression, a 40 percent greater likelihood of obesity and a 62 percent increased chance of inadequate sleep compared to those without smartphones.
Researchers also noted that the earlier a child becomes a smartphone owner, the greater the potential negative impact on their overall health.
