8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Whole Body / General151 citations

Intensity of mobile phone use and health compromising behaviours-how is information and communication technology connected to health-related lifestyle in adolescence?

Bioeffects Seen

Leena K, Tomi L, Arja RR. · 2005

View Original Abstract
Share:

Heavy mobile phone use among teens correlates with smoking, drinking, and other risky behaviors, suggesting device dependency may signal broader unhealthy lifestyle patterns.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Finnish researchers surveyed 3,485 teenagers to examine whether heavy mobile phone use was linked to risky behaviors like smoking, drinking, and using tobacco products. They found that teens who used phones for at least one hour daily were significantly more likely to engage in these health-damaging behaviors. This suggests that intensive phone use may be part of a broader pattern of risky lifestyle choices among adolescents.

Why This Matters

This 2005 study reveals an important connection that extends beyond direct biological effects of EMF exposure. The research demonstrates that intensive mobile phone use among teenagers correlates with a cluster of health-compromising behaviors, suggesting that heavy device use may signal broader lifestyle patterns that put young people at risk. What makes this finding particularly relevant is that it emerged when mobile phone adoption was just reaching widespread levels - 89% of teens used phones, but only 13% were heavy users spending over an hour daily.

The reality is that today's teenagers far exceed these 2005 usage levels, with many spending 4-7 hours daily on their devices. If intensive phone use was already clustering with risky behaviors when usage was relatively modest, we should be asking what this means for today's generation of digital natives. This research suggests we need to consider not just the direct biological effects of EMF exposure, but also how device dependency shapes the broader health behaviors and lifestyle choices of young people.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: At least 1h daily

Study Details

The association of mobile phone use with health compromising behaviours (smoking, snuffing, alcohol) was studied in a survey comprising a representative sample of 14-16-year-olds (N=3485) in 2001.

Mobile phone was used by 89% of respondents and by 13% for at least 1h daily.

The intensity of use was positively associated with health compromising behaviours. The associations...

This study concludes that, at least in the present developmental level of communication technologies, intensive mobile phone use seems to be part of the same health-related lifestyle as health compromising behaviours.

Cite This Study
Leena K, Tomi L, Arja RR. (2005). Intensity of mobile phone use and health compromising behaviours-how is information and communication technology connected to health-related lifestyle in adolescence? J Adolesc. 28(1):35-47, 2005.
Show BibTeX
@article{k_2005_intensity_of_mobile_phone_2348,
  author = {Leena K and Tomi L and Arja RR.},
  title = {Intensity of mobile phone use and health compromising behaviours-how is information and communication technology connected to health-related lifestyle in adolescence?},
  year = {2005},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15683633/},
}
PubMed: 15683633

Cited By (151 papers)

View all 151 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Research suggests yes. A Finnish study of 3,485 teenagers found that teens using mobile phones for at least one hour daily were significantly more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, and use tobacco products compared to lighter users.
The connection isn't direct causation, but intensive mobile phone use appears linked to risky behaviors including smoking. Finnish researchers found heavy phone users were more likely to engage in multiple health-damaging behaviors simultaneously.
This study didn't examine radiation effects specifically, but found that intensive phone use patterns correlate with risky lifestyle choices. Heavy phone users showed significantly higher rates of smoking, drinking, and tobacco use behaviors.
Research indicates intensive mobile phone use may be part of broader risky lifestyle patterns. A large Finnish study found teens using phones heavily were significantly more likely to engage in smoking, drinking, and tobacco use.
Heavy mobile phone use appears connected to health-compromising behaviors in teenagers. Finnish research found that teens using phones at least one hour daily showed significantly higher rates of smoking, drinking, and tobacco product use.