This article draws on insights from a presentation by Rivia Mind Co-founder and CEO Raymond Raad, MD, MPH. As a psychiatrist and clinical leader, Dr. Raad has highlighted how questions about ADHD and technology often spark worry — both in patients and in the public. We’ll examine what the science shows about smartphones and ADHD, why the two get linked, and what it means for your ability to pay attention.
The idea that smartphones are “causing” ADHD has gone mainstream — you see it in headlines, on social media, even in clinical conversations. Many adults ask themselves: “Did I cause this?” or “Will I give myself ADHD by being on my phone too much?”
With what we know currently, the short answer seems to be no. The best evidence so far is that smartphones are correlated with ADHD but don’t cause it or necessarily make it any worse long term. To understand how we come to that conclusion, let’s review what the research says.
What Research Shows
The 2018 JAMA Study
One of the most widely cited studies on this question was published in JAMA in 2018.¹ Researchers followed more than 2,500 high school students in Los Angeles County for two years. At the beginning of the study, the students were asked about ADHD symptoms and their use of smartphones and other digital media — things like checking social apps, streaming videos, or playing games. Then, every six months, the researchers checked in again and measured whether the students were showing symptoms of ADHD.
What they found was interesting, but limited. Students who reported heavier digital media use were slightly more likely to show ADHD-like symptoms.
Interpreting the Data
Thus far, all the data showed was a correlation between ADHD and smartphone usage.
There are two explanations for this correlation:
- Smartphones might cause or worsen ADHD symptoms.
- Students with ADHD traits might naturally gravitate toward their phones because apps and social media provide the fast, novel stimulation their brains find rewarding.
To tease these apart, the study looked at the strength of the correlation over time. And interestingly, this correlation did not increase. So students who used smartphones more had more ADHD symptoms at the start, and at every other time point, their symptoms did not get worse. This makes the second explanation more likely — that students with ADHD gravitated towards phones.
Why Smartphones Still Merit Caution
Even if smartphones don’t cause ADHD, that doesn’t mean they’re harmless. For adults with ADHD, phones can magnify existing challenges in ways that feel subtle in the moment but add up over time.
- They can exacerbate symptoms. Late-night scrolling disrupts sleep, which in turn worsens focus, mood, and memory the next day. Constant notifications or background pings keep attention fragmented, making it harder to sustain focus on tasks that already feel effortful.
- They can make executive function harder. Infinite scroll, autoplay, and multitasking apps are designed to hijack decision-making systems in the brain. For someone with ADHD, who may already struggle with prioritizing and task-switching, these features make it even more difficult to break away and reorient to what matters.
- They can interfere with treatment goals. Many adults set intentions to read more, complete work on time, or establish a steady sleep routine. Phones don’t prevent those goals outright, but they quietly pull time, energy, and motivation away from them.
From Blame to Balance
ADHD existed long before smartphones. Blaming them oversimplifies a complex, lifelong neurological condition and often adds shame where understanding is needed. That doesn’t mean phones are neutral. They can worsen attention problems and get in the way of treatment in the short term. But they do not cause ADHD.
Your ADHD journey is unique — and your care should be too. At Rivia Mind, you’ll find thoughtful, evidence-based support from providers who listen, adapt, and guide. Let’s find a plan that fits your life. Reach out today.
References:
- Ra, C. K., Cho, J., Stone, M. D., De La Cerda, J., Goldenson, N. I., Moroney, E., Tung, I., Lee, S. S., & Leventhal, A. M. (2018). Association of Digital Media Use With Subsequent Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among Adolescents. JAMA, 320(3), 255–263. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.8931
