Large scale test of the Goldilocks hypothesis: Quantifying the relations between digital screens and the mental well-being of adolescents

Although the time adolescents spend with digital technologies has sparked wide concerns their use might be negatively associated with mental well-being, these potential deleterious influences have not been rigorously studied. In line with a preregistered analysis plan, data from a representative sample of English adolescents (n = 120,115) provided evidence that the links between digital screen time and mental well-being follow quadratic functions. Further, these results showed that the relations with digital technology vary as a function of when it is used, suggesting that a full understanding of the impact of these recreational activities involves examining their functionality among other daily pursuits. Overall, evidence indicated that moderate digital technology use is not intrinsically harmful and may be advantageous in a connected world. Findings inform recommendations for limiting adolescents’ technology use and provide a template for conducting rigorous investigations into the relations between digital technology and child and adolescent health