NHS Page - Link Between Depression & Smartphone Use

I have found and read this page from the NHS website, which goes in to a fair amount of detail about the links which researchers have found between depression and frequent use of smartphones and whether or not using smartphones actually causes depression.





It has been found by researchers that people who have had reported depressive symptoms used their phone more often and visited fewer locations other than their home compared to people who do not have these symptoms. 

However, in regards to these results, there were many factors not included in the research such as the employment of the people or whether they have children or not - which would impact on how often they use a phone and how often they are going out of the house. 

The research conducted was an observational study and therefore can only show an association, not prove cause and effect. 
It was done through a questionnaire on a present on a smartphone app, and this can give an indication whether a person is likely to be depressed based on the answers given.

In the conclusion the page states that this particular study should not be taken too seriously as it does not prove that mobile phone use causes depression, it only suggests that people who report higher levels of depression use a mobile phone more and go out less.

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2015/07July/Pages/Weak-link-between-depression-and-frequent-smartphone-use.aspx