Excessive Smartphone Use Linked to Higher Social Anxiety Risk in Young Females: Study

New Delhi: Young women are significantly more likely to develop social anxiety linked to excessive smartphone use compared to other genders, according to a new study presented at the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) Congress 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

The research, led by Dr. Csibi Sandor of George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Romania, highlights the psychological toll of problematic smartphone use — defined as behavioral or psychological dependence — particularly among females. The findings suggest that gender plays a pivotal role in both the extent of smartphone use and its psychological consequences.

Involving 400 young adults (average age 25.9), including 293 women, 104 men, and three participants identifying as another gender, the study found a strong association between gender, time spent on smartphones, and anxiety triggered by fear of negative online judgment. Researchers also noted that excessive phone use can lead to diminished emotional understanding, reduced perceived social support, and impaired social interactions.

“These results point to serious gender differences, with females far more vulnerable to the mental health effects of smartphone overuse,” Dr. Sandor said. He emphasized the need for further investigation into how gender influences digital behaviors and the development of targeted interventions.

Study co-author Neha Pirwani from Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary, noted that the findings align with earlier research indicating that women often experience greater emotional and psychological impacts from smartphone overuse. She called for heightened awareness and proactive support strategies to help identify and manage problematic usage patterns in young women.

EPA President Professor Geert Dom added that nearly all members of Generation Z use smartphones, and existing literature already links this widespread use to rising levels of psychological distress, self-harm, and suicidal ideation among young people. “This area demands urgent attention to mitigate potential long-term mental health consequences,” Dom stated.

The study underscores the importance of recognizing how digital behavior patterns affect mental health differently across genders and calls for gender-sensitive policies and mental health support frameworks in the digital age.