Girls glued to phones ‘more likely to suffer depression’

TEENAGERS who spend hours on their smartphones and electronic devices every day face a greater danger of depression.

Just five hours in front of a screen raises their risk by 71 per cent, according to a study.

Girls are by far the most vulnerable, with females 1 per cent more likely to become depressed if they use social media sites every day.

Researchers believe the pressure to get ‘likes’ and judgment from other users may be to blame, as well as the fact boys are more likely to use devices for gaming.

The study, by San Diego State University and Florida State University, compared depressive symptoms and suicide risk with the use of electronic devices in a survey of 133,000 teenagers.

Teenagers who used social media were 13 per cent more likely to suffer from depression, rising to 1 per cent more likely for girls.

Five hours or more of screen time was linked to a 71 per cent increased risk of depression and suicidal risk factors such as someone thinking about killing themselves or having previously tried to.

The study, published in the journal Clinical Psychological Science, concluded that screen time could be more safely restricted to one or two hours a day.