Swedish twin study finds limited link between screen time and mental health

Scientists at the Karolinska Institute monitored a cohort of Swedish twins beginning at nine years old, recording their screen usage and tracking anxiety and depression through diagnostic registers and self-report surveys. The analysis revealed that adolescents engaging in more than six hours daily of interactive screen activities—such as gaming, chatting, and browsing—exhibited higher levels of depressive and anxious symptoms compared with peers using screens for two hours or less.

However, when twins from the same household were contrasted, the strength of this relationship faded, especially among identical twins, indicating that both hereditary traits and the home environment influence outcomes. Passive screen time, like television watching, showed minimal or no association with mental-health problems. The researchers emphasize that the impact of screen use is complex and depends on the type of activity and what it replaces in daily life.