Smartphones: The Truth About Their Impact on Mental Health with Dr. Jean Twenge (269)

Therapist Uncensored Podcast

Sue Marriott LCSW, CGP & Ann Kelley PhD

Social Sciences, Society & Culture, Science, Relationships, Education, Self-improvement

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 3 June 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Dr. Ann Kelley is joined by Dr. Jean Twenge to discuss her groundbreaking research on generational differences with a focus on how technology—especially smartphones and social media—has transformed communication, relationships, and mental health. They explore how historical shifts and longer life spans contribute to delayed life milestones and what she calls the "slow life strategy." Dr. Twenge highlights the alarming rise in anxiety and depression among Generation Z, which is closely linked to increased screen time and reduced face-to-face interactions. Together they discuss practical steps parents can take to support healthier development and social connection. Shownotes www.therapistuncensored.com/tu269. Join our Neuronerd online community www.therapistuncensored.com/join.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Every generation has had its challenges.
0:02.9	There have been wars and environmental challenges and things like this for a very, very long time.
0:10.2	So I think, I mean, like here's an example.
0:12.6	The most recent data that we've got for most of these data sets is from 2023.
0:18.2	So it's 2023, and you look at the levels of depression and anxiety and self-harm and so on,
0:25.1	pretty high? So was that time period really worse than March 2020 at the beginning of COVID?
0:30.7	Was it really worse than at the height of the Great Recession when a lot of people were losing their homes
0:35.1	and when jobs were extremely hard to find,
0:39.2	is that really worse than the early 90s in the height of the crime wave or in the 80s when
0:45.2	people were thinking that Russia was, or USSR at the time, was going to drop the bomb in any
0:49.9	moment. Every generation has had its external challenges. And I think it's pretty hard to argue that,
0:56.7	you know, living in 2023 is really that much worse than any other era.
1:01.9	Welcome to Therapist Uncensored. Building on decades of professional experience, this podcast
1:07.1	tackles neurobiology, modern attachment, and more in an honest way that's helpful in
1:11.9	healing humans. Your session begins now with Dr. Anne Kelly and Sue Marriott.
1:23.9	Before we get started today, just want to do a quick shout out to remind you all of all kinds of fun ways to get involved and to build community.
1:33.8	We have professional consultation groups available. We have a course that we do live Q&As periodically. It also has a peer reading group within it to learn with other folks.
1:47.3	We have a book, of course, secure relating, holding your own in an insecure world. So there's lots of
1:53.9	ways that we are working to support you and provide different ways to connect and to plug in.
2:00.0	So visit us at therapist uncensored.com and look for the events and happenings page.
2:06.7	And you'll get caught up with us.
2:09.6	Hey, everyone.
	...

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