Nearly one in five pediatric psychiatric crisis encounters reviewed at a large children's hospital involved a problem related to digital media or devices, according to a University of Rochester Medicine study.
Researchers examined more than 3,700 electronic medical records from 2021 and 2022 involving patients ages 6 to 17. They identified digital media-related problems in 19.2% of the encounters.
The problems included cyberbullying, exposure to harmful online content, excessive device use and risky online sexual interactions. Patients whose crises involved digital media were also more likely to have a mood disorder diagnosis.
Meredith Gansner, an assistant professor in the Division of Psychiatry at Golisano Children's Hospital and a study co-author, said the findings suggest clinicians should ask about digital media during crisis evaluations.
Differences by age and sex
Patients with digital media-related crises were slightly older on average. Mood disorders were the only diagnostic category significantly associated with those cases overall, and patients with mood disorders were nearly twice as likely to have a digital media-related crisis as peers without those diagnoses.
Female patients were more likely to have crises involving high-risk online sexual behavior or relationships. Male patients were more likely to have crises involving device access disputes or excessive use that interfered with daily life.
The researchers said those differences could help clinicians tailor screening, prevention advice and conversations with families.
More severe and repeat encounters
Encounters involving digital media problems were more likely to include suicidal thoughts and a recommendation for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. Online conflict and exposure to high-risk content had particularly strong associations with suicidal ideation.
Patients with digital media-related problems were nearly twice as likely to have multiple psychiatric crisis visits during the study period. Those with problems related to device access were especially likely to return.
The study does not establish that digital media caused the psychiatric crises. The authors said online experiences may intensify distress for some young people while device use may serve as a coping tool for others, and both patterns can reflect an underlying mental health vulnerability.
Researchers said the findings support routine assessment of digital media during psychiatric care. Possible interventions include brief counseling for families dealing with device conflict and targeted screening for high-risk online behavior.
Gansner said more evidence is needed to develop prevention strategies that reflect how young people use technology in their daily lives.
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