Digital devices significantly affect human mood
Multiple studies and reviews consistently indicate that digital device and media consumption significantly impact human mood and mental health, often correlating with psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and changes in emotional well-being.
The retrieved literature contains multiple studies examining the effects of digital devices, smartphones, and social media on human mood, emotional regulation, and psychological distress. The vast majority of these studies report significant negative correlations or predictive relationships between problematic digital use and indicators of mood, such as anxiety, depression, stress, and well-being. Therefore, the claim is supported.
M. Wolgast, Hampus Adler, Sima Nurali Wolgast. Motives for social media use in adults: associations with platform-specific use, psychological distress, and problematic engagement. 2025. https://doi.org/10.29329/jsomer.45
Study indicates that habitual use and mood management are strong predictors of problematic social media use, with psychological distress linked to emotional regulation via digital platforms.
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Shawn Bauldry, Kevin Stainback. Media consumption and psychological distress among older adults in the United States. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279587
Research shows older adults closely following media coverage of stressful events score higher on psychological distress.
Tanveer Nasir, Sara Anwar, Muhammad Arif, Dr. Nasir Iqbal. The Psychological Impact of Digital Media Consumption on Mental Health,A Case Study of Undergraduate Students in Pakistan. 2025. https://doi.org/10.63075/7022md02
Findings demonstrate a high positive correlation between the overuse of digital media and elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and reduced self-esteem.
Timon Elmer, Aurelio Fernández, Marie Stadel, Martien Kas, Anna Langener. Bidirectional Associations Between Smartphone Usage and Momentary Well-Being in Young Adults: Tackling Methodological Challenges by Combining Experience Sampling Methods with Passive Smartphone Data. 2023. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/uj6df
Results suggest smartphone usage, particularly social media apps, is associated with reduced affect valence and increased loneliness.
Sharon Horwood, Jeromy Anglim. Problematic Smartphone Usage and Subjective and Psychological Well-Being. 2019. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/nhzp4
Problematic smartphone usage is correlated with lower well-being, specifically showing negative associations with emotional mastery and positive affect.
Al Yazidi IM, Sinal A. From smartphone use to psychological distress: the mediating role of nomophobia among university students in Oman.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-04787-w
Study reveals that smartphone dependency and nomophobia strongly forecast elevated levels of anxiety and depression among students.
Marks A, Berthelot M, Jones H, Taylor AK, Chang K, Crozier S, Cosper SM. The Impact of Smartphone Use on Brain Function in Adolescence: A Scoping Review.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/pediatric18020043
Scoping review indicates that smartphones have a variety of effects on adolescent brain function, with psychological disturbances being a primary theme.
Kim M, Lee H. The longitudinal impact of smartphone dependency on happiness among children: A latent growth modeling approach.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0344529
Longitudinal analysis shows that higher levels of smartphone dependency are consistently associated with lower happiness trajectories over time among children.
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