The longitudinal structural relationship between mobile phone dependency, mental health, and school life adjustment

The purpose of this study was to carry out a review of observational studies that consider links between mobile phone use and mental health from a psychological or behavioral perspective. Systematic literature searches in PubMed and PsycINFO for articles published until 2017 were done. Exclusion criteria included: papers that considered radiofrequency fields, attention, safety, relational consequences, sexual behavior, cyberbullying, and reviews, qualitative, and case or experimental studies. A total of 4738 papers were screened by title and abstract, 404 were retrieved in full text, and 290 were included. Only 5% had any longitudinal design. Self-reporting was the dominating method of measurement. One third of the studies included children or youth. A majority of adult populations consisted of university students and/or self-selected participants. The main research results included associations between frequent mobile phone use and mental health outcomes, such as depressive symptoms and sleep problems. Mobile phone use at bedtime was associated with, e.g., shorter sleep duration and lower sleep quality. “Problematic use” (dependency) was associated with several negative outcomes. In conclusion, associations between mobile phone use and adverse mental health outcomes are found in studies that take a psychological or behavioral perspective on the exposure. However, more studies of high quality are needed in order to draw valid conclusions about the mechanisms and causal directions of associations.

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'School behaviour difficulties, school based interventions, and inclusive education' - In Conversation with Dr. Alice Jones Bartoli

10.13056/acamh.16474 ◽

2021 ◽

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Inclusive Education ◽

School Life ◽

Interdisciplinary Methods ◽

School Based ◽

School Based Interventions

In this podcast with Dr. Alice Jones Bartoli is on school behaviour difficulties, school based interventions and inclusive education. Alice’s work uses interdisciplinary methods to focus largely on school behaviour and mental health across a child's school life.

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Group-Personalized Regression Models for Predicting Mental Health Scores From Objective Mobile Phone Data Streams: Observational Study

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/10194 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (10) ◽

pp. e10194 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Niclas Palmius ◽

Kate E A Saunders ◽

Oliver Carr ◽

John R Geddes ◽

Guy M Goodwin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Observational Study ◽

Mobile Phone ◽

Data Streams ◽

Regression Models ◽

Mobile Phone Data

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Mobile Health for All: Public-Private Partnerships Can Create a New Mental Health Landscape

JMIR Mental Health ◽

10.2196/mental.5843 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. e26 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Dror Ben-Zeev

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Severe Mental Illness ◽

Mobile Phone ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Mobile Technology ◽

Low Income ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Assistance Program ◽

The U.S

Research has already demonstrated that different mHealth approaches are feasible, acceptable, and clinically promising for people with mental health problems. With a robust evidence base just over the horizon, now is the time for policy makers, researchers, and the private sector to partner in preparation for the near future. The Lifeline Assistance Program is a useful model to draw from. Created in 1985 by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Lifeline is a nationwide program designed to help eligible low-income individuals obtain home phone and landline services so they can pursue employment, reach help in case of emergency, and access social services and healthcare. In 2005, recognizing the broad shift towards mobile technology and mobile-cellular infrastructure, the FCC expanded the program to include mobile phones and data plans. The FCC provides a base level of federal support, but individual states are responsible for regional implementation, including engagement of commercial mobile phone carriers. Given the high rates of disability and poverty among people with severe mental illness, many are eligible to benefit from Lifeline and research has shown that a large proportion does in fact use this program to obtain a mobile phone and data plan. In the singular area of mobile phone use, the gap between people with severe mental illness and the general population in the U.S. is vanishing. Strategic multi-partner programs will be able to grant access to mHealth for mental health programs to those who will not be able to afford them—arguably, the people who need them the most. Mobile technology manufacturing costs are dropping. Soon all mobile phones in the marketplace, including the more inexpensive devices that are made available through subsidy programs, will have “smart” capabilities (ie, internet connectivity and the capacity to host apps). Programs like Lifeline could be expanded to include mHealth resources that capitalize on “smart” functions, such as secure/encrypted clinical texting programs and mental health monitoring and illness-management apps. Mobile phone hardware and software development companies could be engaged to add mHealth programs as a standard component in the suite of tools that come installed on their mobile phones; thus, in addition to navigation apps, media players, and games, the new Android or iPhone could come with guided relaxation videos, medication reminder systems, and evidence-based self-monitoring and self-management tools. Telecommunication companies could be encouraged to offer mHealth options with their data plans. Operating system updates pushed out by the mobile carrier companies could come with optional mHealth applications for those who elect to download them. In the same manner in which the Lifeline Assistance Program has helped increase access to fundamental opportunities to so many low-income individuals, innovative multi-partner programs have the potential to put mHealth for mental health resources in the hands of millions in the years ahead.

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Factors associated with mental health among high school students in Iran: Does mobile phone overuse associate with poor mental health?

Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing ◽

10.1111/jcap.12202 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 6-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Hassan Mahmoodi ◽

Haidar Nadrian ◽

Abdolreza Shaghaghi ◽

Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi ◽

Asad Ahmadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Mobile Phone ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

School Students ◽

Factors Associated

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Experiences of COVID-19 Policy Measures and Mental Health in Uganda: Cross-Sectional Evidence From a Mobile Phone-Based Population Survey

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3894387 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Emma Clarke ◽

Slawa Rokicki ◽

Mark McGovern ◽

Catherine Birabwa ◽

Jessica Cohen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mobile Phone ◽

Population Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Policy Measures

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Promotion of mental health in young adults via mobile phone app: study protocol of the ECoWeB (emotional competence for well-being in Young adults) cohort multiple randomised trials

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-020-02857-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

A. Newbold ◽

F. C. Warren ◽

R. S. Taylor ◽

C. Hulme ◽

S. Burnett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young Adults ◽

Young People ◽

Mobile Phone ◽

Primary Endpoint ◽

Emotional Competence ◽

Well Being ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Link Type ◽

Self Help

Abstract Background Promoting well-being and preventing poor mental health in young people is a major global priority. Building emotional competence (EC) skills via a mobile app may be an effective, scalable and acceptable way to do this. However, few large-scale controlled trials have examined the efficacy of mobile apps in promoting mental health in young people; none have tailored the app to individual profiles. Method/design The Emotional Competence for Well-Being in Young Adults cohort multiple randomised controlled trial (cmRCT) involves a longitudinal prospective cohort to examine well-being, mental health and EC in 16–22 year olds across 12 months. Within the cohort, eligible participants are entered to either the PREVENT trial (if selected EC scores at baseline within worst-performing quartile) or to the PROMOTE trial (if selected EC scores not within worst-performing quartile). In both trials, participants are randomised (i) to continue with usual practice, repeated assessments and a self-monitoring app; (ii) to additionally receive generic cognitive-behavioural therapy self-help in app; (iii) to additionally receive personalised EC self-help in app. In total, 2142 participants aged 16 to 22 years, with no current or past history of major depression, bipolar disorder or psychosis will be recruited across UK, Germany, Spain, and Belgium. Assessments take place at baseline (pre-randomisation), 1, 3 and 12 months post-randomisation. Primary endpoint and outcome for PREVENT is level of depression symptoms on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 at 3 months; primary endpoint and outcome for PROMOTE is emotional well-being assessed on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale at 3 months. Depressive symptoms, anxiety, well-being, health-related quality of life, functioning and cost-effectiveness are secondary outcomes. Compliance, adverse events and potentially mediating variables will be carefully monitored. Conclusions The trial aims to provide a better understanding of the causal role of learning EC skills using interventions delivered via mobile phone apps with respect to promoting well-being and preventing poor mental health in young people. This knowledge will be used to develop and disseminate innovative evidence-based, feasible, and effective Mobile-health public health strategies for preventing poor mental health and promoting well-being. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.org). Number of identification: NCT04148508 November 2019.

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