More than 50 percent of Indian youth aged 18 to 24 suffer from poor mental health, which significantly affects their ability to function effectively. A staggering 65 per cent of Indian girls report significant mental distress.
Published Feb 09, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 09, 2025 | 7:00 AM
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Synopsis: A new study reveals that over 56 percent of adolescents aged 13-17 in India and the United States are experiencing significant mental distress, with Indian girls being particularly. It establishes a direct link between early smartphone ownership and declining mental health, manifesting in increased aggression, anger, intrusive thoughts, and disrupted sleep patterns.
In an era of rapid digital transformation, a new study has issued a stark warning about the severe mental health consequences of early smartphone exposure among adolescents in India and the United States.
The report from the Global Mind Project, an open database for researchers that tracks mind health and wellbeing of Internet-enabled populations, titled The Youth Mind: Rising Aggression and Anger, presents a troubling picture of a generation grappling with unprecedented psychological challenges..
Conducted by Sapien Labs and involving 10,475 adolescents, the study reveals a shocking statistic: over 56 percent of youth aged 13 to 17 are categorised as “distressed” or “struggling.”
Perhaps most alarming is the gender disparity in mental health impacts, with a staggering 65 percent of Indian girls reporting significant mental distress.
“This pattern is evident year after year, where 13-year-olds fare worse than 14-year-olds, who, in turn, fare worse than 15-year-olds, and so on. The trend is particularly pronounced among girls, with 65 percent classified as distressed or struggling to a degree that significantly impairs their ability to function effectively in the world and would be of clinical concern,” the report states.
More than 50 percent of Indian youth aged 18 to 24 suffer from poor mental health, which significantly affects their ability to function effectively.
The mental well-being of young people in India has declined since the pandemic. Data shows that the Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) of youth was lower in 2023 compared to 2020.
This widespread mental health crisis has broader implications, as young people are considered a key demographic for India’s economic growth. Poor mental well-being not only affects their personal lives but also reduces their ability to contribute productively to the workforce, increasing the risk of absenteeism.
The study establishes a direct and concerning correlation between early smartphone ownership and declining mental health.
Adolescents who received smartphones at a younger age – typically around 10 years old – exhibit significantly higher levels of emotional and psychological challenges compared to their slightly older peers who received phones later.
“In India, 13-year-olds reported receiving their first smartphone, on average, at age 11, compared to 17-year-olds, who reported getting their phones at around age 14.
“It is important to note that 13- to 17-year-olds who do not yet own a smartphone are unlikely to be included in this sample, potentially leading to an underestimation of the actual age of first smartphone ownership, particularly among 13-year-olds.
“This effect is likely more pronounced in India, where 55 percent of 17-year-olds reported receiving a smartphone after the age of 13, compared to only 27 percent in the United States,” the report states.
The mental health consequences extend far beyond the traditional concerns of sadness and anxiety. Researchers have documented a troubling rise in:
“With a majority of youth now struggling at a level that impairs their ability to function productively – and a substantial fraction experiencing increased aggression, anger, and hallucinations – this raises a dystopian possibility for the future of society,” the study warns.
While digital technology offers unprecedented learning opportunities, the study highlights the profound risks of unfiltered online exposure. Early smartphone access exposes young people to:
“Although we are still uncovering how owning a smartphone from a younger age contributes to these issues, it is well known that the internet can expose children to unregulated or inappropriate content.
“For example, research has shown that exposure to violent media between the ages of 10 and 15 is linked to violent behavior in adolescence and adulthood,” the study states.
Additionally, the study found a correlation between earlier smartphone ownership and an earlier age of social media use, exposing individuals to the pressures and risks of online interactions at a younger age.
Research indicates that early social media initiation – such as using Snapchat or Instagram before age 10 – is significantly associated with unsympathetic online behaviors, as well as an increased likelihood of online harassment and sexual harassment victimisation.
Smartphone use also frequently displaces other essential activities, including face-to-face social interactions and sleep.
Acquiring a smartphone during early childhood, when core social skills such as empathy, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation should be practiced and developed in real-world settings, can leave adolescents less equipped to manage anger and aggression.
Furthermore, excessive screen time and habits such as keeping a smartphone next to the bed are associated with poorer sleep quality and shorter sleep duration. In turn, inadequate sleep has been linked to heightened aggression during adolescence.
The study reveals notable cultural differences in how smartphone use affects mental health. While a decline in mental well-being is evident in both India and the United States, the pattern of deterioration differs.
In the US, both males and females experience similar declines, whereas in India, the decline is more pronounced among females, with some aspects of mental health paradoxically improving for males.
“Across the world, parents, schools, and governments have the ability to reduce early childhood exposure to smartphones. Recent grassroots campaigns, such as ‘Wait Until 8th’ in the US and ‘Smartphone-Free Childhood’ in the UK, along with government measures like Australia’s ban on social media for children under 16, aim to delay and discourage smartphone use at a young age.
“However, with the trend of increasingly younger children owning smartphones, it is clear that more action is urgently needed,” the study states.
“Early intervention is key. We need proper counseling programs that help kids build emotional strength, manage their screen time wisely, and use technology in a healthy way.
“These programs should be designed with Indian youth in mind, especially girls, who seem to be facing the worst effects,” said Hyderabad-based psychologist Dr Madhu Krishna.
He also stressed the importance of schools in shaping children’s mental health. “Schools need to step up and include mental health education as part of their curriculum.
“Kids should learn basic skills like understanding how the internet affects their emotions, handling stress, thinking critically about what they see online, and knowing when too much screen time is harmful,” he added.
“Parents also need help. A lot of them don’t realise how early smartphone use can impact a child’s mental well-being.
“We should be guiding them on how to manage their child’s screen time, introduce age-appropriate digital habits, and spot the early warning signs of smartphone-related mental health issues.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
