How does screen time affect stress and anxiety levels over two weeks?

Over two weeks, the Unwind Your Mind team conducted a short-term observational study to explore how screen time affects stress levels and anxiety in high school students. Thirty participants tracked their daily screen use, rating how many hours they spent on devices like phones. At the end of each day, they recorded their stress and anxiety levels on a scale of 1 to 5. They also described how their overall screen time usage made them feel physically, mentally, and emotionally. At the end, we had all of our participants fill out a final reflection survey.

 As the days progressed, clear patterns began to emerge. Students who spent more than six hours a day on screens consistently reported lower mood scores and heightened anxiety symptoms. In contrast, those who limited their screen time to under six hours tended to feel more focused, calmer, and reported better sleep. The most significant effects were linked to time spent on social media, which was strongly associated with increased stress and restlessness.

Our team was able to compile all the data from the participants via a Google Forms daily survey and final reflection survey. We used all the information we collected to form the graphs shown above. The results were undeniable. Screen time has a significant effect on stress and anxiety levels.

Average Screen Time 

• Observation: Most students logged 8–10 hours of total screen time per day

• This confirms our idea that screen time usage overall is high, exceeding the recommended maximum of 2–3 hours of screen use per day for teens. It suggests that screen time is a major part of students’ daily lives.

Average Social Media Usage

• Observation: The highest number of students (approx. 16) reported spending 6 hours per day on social media

• The majority of students are engaging with social media heavily, with around 6 hours daily. This high level of engagement could be a contributor to mental strain, especially due to  social comparison, fearing of missing out, and constant notifications.

Average Stress Levels

• Observation: Students with more than 6 hours of screen time consistently had higher stress levels, while students with less than 6 hours of screen time reported much lower stress, generally staying between the range 2–3

• There is a clear correlation: higher screen time = higher stress. The increase in stress levels over the two weeks, suggested that prolonged screen exposure can have negative effects on mental health.

What are we really doing on our screens?

• Breakdown: 

• Social Media: 53.3% Messages/Calls: 23.3% School/Work: 20% Web Browsing: 3.3%

• Over half of the total screen time is used for social media. This supports the findings in the other graphs. The use of social media in high school and stress is a strong link. This statistic from our data proves the negative effects that come from how students actually spend their time.

While collecting data from our peers and asking about their screen time habits, we quickly realized that many students were unaware of how much time they actually spent on their phones. Common reactions included, “That’s so crazy!” or “I’m not on my phone that much,” just proving how unaware most of us are in relation to the effects of screen time. From the final reflection survey, many reported that they discovered that an increased screen time made them feel tired, unmotivated, and less focused, whereas those who limited their screen time, reported saying they were refreshed, productive, and in an overall better mood. 

What excited us most was hearing that many participants planned to make changes to their screen time habits in hopes of improving their mental well-being. Though this was a short-term study, the results clearly showed that even small reductions in screen time can have a noticeable impact on emotional health. It emphasized the importance of being mindful with our screen use and finding a healthy balance between our digital and offline lives.