Longitudinal Bidirectional Associations Among Problematic Screen use, Total Sleep Time, and Attentional Control in Adolescence

The widespread and increasing use of mobile phones and social media has raised concerns regarding their potential effects on both sleep and executive functioning. These potential adverse effects are particularly concerning in the adolescent population, a period marked by significant development. Despite growing research, existing papers remain methodologically limited, with most studies relying on cross-sectional designs, limiting conclusions about developmental change. Although some research has utilised longitudinal data, relatively simple analytical approaches have typically been employed. This often restricts analyses to basic associations rather than more complex relationships. Furthermore, limited research has simultaneously examined the relationships between problematic phone use, sleep, and attentional control. The present study addressed these limitations by investigating the bidirectional associations between problematic phone use and social media use, total sleep time, and attentional control, using structural equation modelling. The study also aimed to examine a potential mediation pathway, whereby sleep was hypothesised to mediate the relationship between problematic screen use measures and attentional control. Data were drawn from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a large longitudinal cohort of adolescents initially aged 9–10 years. This was analysed using latent change score models across a two-year period (from year 2 follow-up to year 4 follow-up of the ABCD). Results demonstrated that baseline problematic phone use and social media use predicted changes in total sleep time over two years, however, in opposite directions. Greater baseline problematic social media use was associated with decreases in total sleep time, whereas greater baseline problematic phone use was associated with increases in total sleep time. Baseline sleep did not significantly predict subsequent changes in problematic phone use or social media use. No significant relationships were observed between screen-based behaviours and changes in attentional control, nor between baseline attentional control and changes in problematic screen use. Additionally, no significant bidirectional relationships were found between total sleep time and attentional control. As such, the conditions required to test mediation were not met, and mediation analyses were not conducted. The findings highlight the complexity of relationships between problematic screen use, sleep, and attentional control during adolescence and suggests that previously assumed associations may be weaker or more context-dependent than expected. These findings underscore the need for further longitudinal research to better understand the directionality of relationships and developmental change during adolescence.