Screen time addiction in adults linked to borderline personality traits and psychological distress

Is scrolling social media contributing to a mental health problem?

Probably, according to the author of a recent study, which found that addiction to screens — computers, smartphones, televisions, game consoles and other digital devices — is linked to mental illness.

And while most studies have examined the effects of screen time on children and teenagers, the study, published in the Annals of Human and Social Sciences, examined the effects in adults.

And the results weren’t encouraging.

“The growing interest and use of screen-based technologies throughout the world made me think about its pros and cons,” study author Adeena Ahmed, a clinical psychologist at Lifeline Rehabilitation Centre Islamabad, told PsyPost.

“As I read previously published articles related to screen-time addiction, I realized that very little importance has been given to this topic,” Ahmed added.

To analyze these issues, Ahmed conducted a study involving 150 adults from Rawalpindi and Islamabad in Pakistan who completed the Internet Addiction Test, a questionnaire consisting of 20 statements designed to assess an individual’s level of internet addiction.

The questionnaire covers several aspects of screen time use, including spending more time online than intended, neglecting responsibilities, preferring online interactions over real-life ones and experiencing negative emotions when offline.

“Everyone knows about negative impacts of screens and how a behavioral addiction can have the same consequences as substance addiction, but we still have very little empirical evidence that support this debate,” said Ahmed.

Participants also completed questionnaires to assess symptoms related to borderline personality disorder and psychological distress.

Borderline personality disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a mental illness marked by self-image problems, a pattern of unstable relationships, inappropriate anger, impulsiveness, frequent mood swings and difficulty managing emotions and behavior.

The study found a relationship between screen time and both borderline personality disorder symptoms and psychological distress. Individuals who spent excessive time on-screen were more likely to show signs of borderline personality disorder, including mood swings and unbalanced emotions.

They were also more prone to experiencing psychological distress, which includes symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The study found that men tended to be more addicted to screens than women, with men scoring significantly higher on measures of screen time addiction. “I was expecting the same ratio of screen addictive behaviors in both genders,” Ahmed said.

“We all know that we live in a world in which use of screen-based technologies is something we cannot avoid,” Ahmed said.

“The findings of this study can help the average person to at least keep a check on their screen time and try to balance it. Any behavior or any substance that we use in excess can lead to addiction and can further can trigger psychological disorders as well,” Ahmed added.