Mobile phone use is driving poor mental wellbeing, especially in younger people, as Axa’s latest Mind Health Report found half of Britons (50%) are experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing.
The Axa study found that 22% of Gen Zs polled find themselves struggling to focus, or lacking productivity every day – as a direct result of phone use.
A third (34%) said their mental health had suffered due to scrolling social media before bed, while 33% had been affected by comparing their appearance to others online.
Of those who had issues with mental health, the person most would turn to would be a friend (37%) or partner (31%), with only 14% opting for a healthcare professional – the same amount who said they would not have anyone to confide in.
And more than half (56%) had also intentionally taken breaks from social media or phone use to better their mental health.
The research was conducted across 16 countries among 1,000 adults in each country with a further 2,000 UK young adults aged 18-28 also surveyed.
Difficulty maintaining conversations
Three-quarters (71%) of young adults admitted they struggled to maintain concentration during conversations – and will reach for their phone after two minutes and 15 seconds.
And more than than one in three (39%) young adults felt a strong urge to look at their phone while conversing with someone in real life.
Social events (28%), speaking with friends (18%) and parents (17%) were some scenarios where the younger generations switch off, while 28% added they were even switching off at work, potentially impacting their productivity.
For 18-28-year-olds, the biggest temptations to look at their phone when chatting face-to-face include checking messages (48%), scrolling social media (44%) and even opening YouTube (18%).
Meanwhile phone calls (32%), WhatsApp messages (23%) and social media mentions (14%) were some of the notifications deemed hardest to ignore, as 38% admitted they found real world interaction boring.
And despite the interactions with others via the internet, 63% admitted they struggled with real-life interaction – and 77% used their phone as a form of escapism.
‘Enlightening and alarming’
Tara Foley, CEO of AXA UK and Ireland (pictured) said: “The results of our fifth Mind Health Report are both enlightening and alarming.
“As a society we’re so well connected via our screens that sometimes we’re losing the human touch.
“Phones give us a hit of dopamine which is hugely powerful, especially on younger minds that are still developing.
“It’s unsurprising so many parents are worried about the impact phone use could be having on their children.
“The way we communicate has evolved dramatically, but not always for the better.
“While social media and instant messaging allow for constant connection, they can also make us all feel lonelier than ever.
“We hope this research will encourage a more collaborative approach so that solutions which foster resilience and improve mental health outcomes can be developed for everyone, but especially for young people.”
