Teens who can’t put away their phones aren’t just entranced: Their brains actually have a chemical imbalance, a small new study has found.
When researchers in South Korea used spectroscopy — a scan that shows substances present in the body — on adolescents who were addicted to smartphones and the internet, they found the teens had higher levels of a chemical that suppresses brain activity than their healthy peers. But after nine weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy, the imbalance seemed to correct itself.
The study involved 38 teens: 19 who were identified as internet and smartphone addicts and 19 healthy gender and age‐matched kids who were used as controls…
Advice for Parents:
Take a hard look at your own smartphone habits and model better behavior: “Your kids look to you for information — ‘Are you noticing if I’m doing something good? Are you noticing if I’m doing something bad?’ and if your face is in your phone, you’re not picking up on those things… You’re teaching them being disconnected is OK,” said family psychologist Dr. Jennifer Hartstein. Power your own phone down and talk to your kids.
