Mobile phone use, behavioural problems and concentration capacity in adolescents: A prospective study.

International journal of hygiene and environmental health · 2016 · Mixed · Moderate evidence

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MixedModerate evidencePaper 4814

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of hygiene and environmental health · 2016

Study typecohort

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

The aim of this study is to prospectively investigate whether exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) emitted by mobile phones and other wireless communication devices is related to behavioural problems or concentration capacity in adolescents. The HERMES (Health Effects Related to Mobile phonE use in adolescentS) study sample consisted of 439 Swiss adolescents aged 12-17 years. Behavioural problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), concentration capacity of the adolescents was measured by means of a standardized computerized cognitive test named FAKT. Cross-sectional and longitudinal (1year of follow-up) analyses were performed to investigate possible associations between behavioural problems and concentration capacity and different exposure measures: self-reported and operator-recorded wireless communication device use, cumulative RF-EMF brain and whole body dose and measured personal RF-EMF exposure. In the cross-sectional analyses behavioural problems were associated with several self-reported wireless device use measures but not operator-recorded mobile phone use measures, concentration capacity was associated with several self-reported and operator-recorded exposures. The longitudinal analyses point towards absence of associations. The lack of consistent exposure-response patterns in the longitudinal analyses suggests that behavioural problems and concentration capacity are not affected by the use of wireless communication devices or RF-EMF exposure. Information bias and reverse causality are likely explanations for the observed cross-sectional findings.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecohort

Effect directionmixed

PopulationSwiss adolescents aged 12–17 years

Sample size439

ExposureRF · 1 year follow-up

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Cross-sectional analyses found behavioural problems associated with several self-reported wireless device use measures but not with operator-recorded mobile phone use measures; concentration capacity was associated with several self-reported and operator-recorded exposures. Longitudinal analyses over 1 year suggested absence of associations and lacked consistent exposure–response patterns, leading the authors to conclude behavioural problems and concentration capacity are not affected by wireless device use or RF-EMF exposure.

Outcomes measured

Behavioural problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ)
Concentration capacity (FAKT computerized cognitive test)

Limitations

Cross-sectional associations may reflect information bias
Cross-sectional associations may reflect reverse causality
Lack of consistent exposure–response patterns in longitudinal analyses

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cohort",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone, other wireless communication devices",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 year follow-up"
  },
  "population": "Swiss adolescents aged 12–17 years",
  "sample_size": 439,
  "outcomes": [
    "Behavioural problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ)",
    "Concentration capacity (FAKT computerized cognitive test)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Cross-sectional analyses found behavioural problems associated with several self-reported wireless device use measures but not with operator-recorded mobile phone use measures; concentration capacity was associated with several self-reported and operator-recorded exposures. Longitudinal analyses over 1 year suggested absence of associations and lacked consistent exposure–response patterns, leading the authors to conclude behavioural problems and concentration capacity are not affected by wireless device use or RF-EMF exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Cross-sectional associations may reflect information bias",
    "Cross-sectional associations may reflect reverse causality",
    "Lack of consistent exposure–response patterns in longitudinal analyses"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "mobile phone",
    "wireless communication devices",
    "adolescents",
    "behavioural problems",
    "SDQ",
    "concentration capacity",
    "cognitive test",
    "prospective study",
    "operator-recorded use",
    "personal RF-EMF exposure",
    "brain dose",
    "whole body dose"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.08.007
PubMed: 27665258

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