Context-Aware Digital Phenotyping of Youth Mental Health Using Mobile Ecological Prospective Assessments of Smartphone Use
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Background
Youth mental disorders affect 12-14% of adolescents globally and remain underdiagnosed and undertreated. Digital phenotyping offers a scalable approach to real-time behavioural monitoring via smartphones, yet most studies rely solely on passive measures such as screen time, overlooking contextual factors.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was part of the Smart Platform, a digital citizen science initiative that engaged youth aged 13-21 years. Participants completed a baseline survey on sociodemographic characteristics and mental health (depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation). Over the next seven days, context-aware digital phenotyping was conducted, defined as the collection of ecologically valid, time-stamped behavioural data from personal devices. This was implemented through mobile ecological prospective assessments (mEPAs) to capture self-reported smartphone use context, including activity type, location, and social setting. Multivariable logistic regression assessed associations between smartphone use context and mental health, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates.
Results
Eighty-four youth completed the baseline survey and at least one mEPA. A higher proportion of smartphone use at home was associated with lower odds of depression (OR=0.105, 95% CI: 0.028-0.276) and anxiety (OR=0.150, 0.053-0.345). A greater proportion of smartphone use while alone was associated with higher odds of depression (OR=3.802, 1.622-11.241), as was a greater proportion of time spent internet surfing (OR=2.663, 1.238-6.843). Longer duration of smartphone use outside the home was associated with higher odds of depression (OR=4.289, 1.443-16.579).
Conclusion
Context-aware smartphone metrics may offer more informative digital phenotyping indicators of youth mental health than duration alone, supporting integration of multi-context measures into early detection and precision prevention frameworks.
