Smartphone use, wellbeing, and their association in children

Problematic smartphone use in children and adolescents has increased in the last seven years, while quality of life has decreased. Problematic smartphone use is associated with decreased quality of life, and this association was especially strong in 2022 and 2023. In contrast to previous studies, the present time trend analysis covers time periods before and within the Covid-19 pandemic and suggests that the pandemic has reinforced the observed changes in smartphone use and quality of life. Restricting children's smartphone use might help to improve or maintain a higher quality of life.