Experiment Shows Time Alone Heightens ‘Threat Alert’ in Teenagers—Even When Using Social Media

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MedicalXpress.

People in their late teens experience an increased sensitivity to threats after just a few hours left in a room on their own—an effect that endures even if they are interacting online with friends and family.

This is according to the latest findings from a cognitive neuroscience experiment conducted at the University of Cambridge, which saw 40 young people aged 16–19 undergo testing before and after several hours alone—both with and without their smartphones.

Scientists found that periods of isolation, including those in which participants could use their phones, led to an increased threat response—the sensing of and reacting to potential dangers. This alertness can cause people to feel anxious and uneasy.

The authors of the study say that isolation and loneliness might lead to excessive “threat vigilance,” even when plugged in online, which could negatively impact adolescent mental health over time.

They say it could contribute to the persistent and exaggerated fear responses typical of anxiety disorders on the rise among young people around the world.

The findings were published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-11-heightens-threat-teenagers-social-media.html