Being a night owl has its perks. Scientists have found that people who habitually stay up late may be more creative, and perhaps even more intelligent, than those who go to bed and wake up earlier. But it also has its downsides: There’s evidence that night owls may be more susceptible to psychiatric issues and cognitive decline than their early bird peers.
And now, a new study involving Gen Z participants adds to the reasons why staying up late may not be in your brain’s best interest.
In a paper published last week in the journal PLOS One, researchers found that Gen Z night owls appear to be more prone to “problematic” smartphone use and social media addiction than early birds. The reason why is particularly concerning: The researchers found that loneliness and anxiety were the biggest drivers of unhealthy smartphone and social media use.
Why late-night scrolling may be bad for your brain
The researchers assessed the mental health of 407 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 and found that those who stayed up late had higher rates of “problematic smartphone use and social media addiction” than those who went to bed early.
Many of us are guilty of a little evening doomscrolling, but the study shines a light on some serious downsides. Young people who stayed up late not only exhibited more unhealthy smartphone use, but they also had higher rates of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, loneliness, and poor sleep quality.
The study also found that while loneliness and anxiety both led to more problematic smartphone use and smartphone addiction, loneliness was the stronger predictor.
A “vicious cycle”
The findings suggest that young adults who find themselves alone and awake at night might use social media in the absence of alternative ways to feel a social connection, the researchers said.
“Our findings point to a vicious cycle,” said study author Anna-Stiina Wallinheimo, a teaching fellow at the University of Portsmouth in England. “Young adults who are naturally more active in the evening often find themselves socially out of sync, which may lead to feelings of loneliness and anxiety.
“Many then turn to smartphones and social media to cope, but unfortunately, these tools can make things worse, not better,” Wallinheimo added.
The authors said the findings should give people pause before turning to their phones late at night. “Young adults should be discouraged from turning to social media and smartphone use as coping mechanisms, and instead be informed regarding effective strategies and interventions for addressing their loneliness and anxiety,” they wrote in the study.