Passive vs Active Nighttime Smartphone Use as Markers of Next-Day Suicide Risk

Are the timing and type (passive vs active) of nighttime smartphone use associated with next-day suicidal ideation and suicide planning in high-risk adults?In this study combining surveys and passive data collection in 79 adults with recent suicidal thoughts, late-night phone use (11:00 to 1:00 ) was associated with higher next-day suicide risk, while keyboard-based activity during middle-night hours (1:00 to 5:00 ) was associated with lower risk.These findings suggest that specific usage patterns of nighttime smartphone use may be a more important focus for future suicide prevention interventions than total screen time.

Corresponding Author: Ross Jacobucci, PhD, Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 625 W Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703 (jacobucci@wisc.edu).

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