--- title: Banning Smartphone in School May Not Do Much for Mental Health description: Banning smartphones from classrooms can lead to modest improvements in students’ conduct but doesn’t seem to improve emotional or attention problems. image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/smartphone_school_iStock-2210255295.jpg --- 6/22/26 10:02 AM # Banning Smartphone in School May Not Do Much for Mental Health ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/banning-smartphone-in-school-may-not-do-much-for-mental-health) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/banning-smartphone-in-school-may-not-do-much-for-mental-health) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/banning-smartphone-in-school-may-not-do-much-for-mental-health) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/banning-smartphone-in-school-may-not-do-much-for-mental-health) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/banning-smartphone-in-school-may-not-do-much-for-mental-health) ![smartphone_school_iStock-2210255295](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/smartphone_school_iStock-2210255295.jpg?width=220&height=147&name=smartphone_school_iStock-2210255295.jpg)Banning smartphones from classrooms can lead to modest improvements in students’ conduct but doesn’t seem to improve emotional or attention problems, according to a [study](https://www.jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(26)00267-4/fulltext) appearing in the *Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry*.   **Why It’s Relevant** Smartphones are becoming ubiquitous accessories for teens and tweens, but excess phone use, particularly in [early adolescence](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2849461), has been associated with poorer mental health and academic performance. In response, numerous states have recently implemented [limitations or bans](https://govfacts.org/education-family-social-services/k-12-education/education-policy-reform/over-30-states-now-ban-phones-in-schools-heres-whats-working-and-what-isnt/) on phone use during school hours. The question now is whether these bans are helping.   **By the Numbers** - Researchers tracked 1,643 students ages 11 to 18 from across southern Brazil during the 2025 academic year (March through October). In January 2025, Brazil had [passed a law](https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2025-02-13/brazil-new-law-prohibits-cell-phone-use-in-schools/) that significantly restricted the use of portable electronics during school activities. - Students assessed as being at-risk for problematic smartphone use showed **modest reductions in conduct problems by June that were maintained through October**. However, these students’ overall conduct scores were still in the borderline or high range at the end of the year. - Among at-risk students, the smartphone ban **did not reduce inattention/hyperactivity or emotional problems**. - Among all students, the smartphone ban **did not result in any significant increases in prosocial behaviors**. **The Other Side** This study was conducted in the very first year following the new law, and it’s possible that behaviors will improve as students get more acclimated to a phone-free school environment. The researchers were also unable to differentiate at-risk students who had conduct difficulties brought on by excess smartphone use from those whose smartphone use was a coping strategy for existing problems.   **Takeaway Message** These findings suggest that school-based smartphone restrictions alone are insufficient to improve internalizing and externalizing symptoms in youth who might have problematic screen use. The researchers suggested that additional targeted measures such as digital literacy training and mental health counseling are needed.   **Related Information** “[Short-Term Screen Breaks Linked With Psychological Benefits](https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2024.10.10.26)”   **Source** Maiara da Silva Martins, et al. Problematic smartphone use and mental health trajectories during Brazil’s first-year school-hour restrictions. *Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. *Published June 16, 2026. doi:[10.1016/j.jaac.2026.06.002 ](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2026.06.002)   (Image: Getty Images/iStock/StockPlanets)   [adolescents](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/adolescents), [conduct problems](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/conduct-problems), [hyperactivity](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/hyperactivity), [school](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/school), [prosocial](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/prosocial), [smartphone](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/smartphone), [Brazil](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/brazil), [bans](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/bans) ## Related Posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/disabledelderlypatient_59333092-Jun-24-2025-07-42-28-1174-PM.jpg?height=200&name=disabledelderlypatient_59333092-Jun-24-2025-07-42-28-1174-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/12/memantine-doesn-improve-depression-and.html) ## [Memantine Doesn't Improve Depression and Apathy in Disabled Older Patients](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/12/memantine-doesn-improve-depression-and.html) 12/28/11 12:00 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/12/memantine-doesn-improve-depression-and.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/tbi_85776457-Jun-24-2025-03-40-33-0630-PM.jpg?height=200&name=tbi_85776457-Jun-24-2025-03-40-33-0630-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/11/citicoline-appears-to-offer-no.html) ## [Citicoline Appears to Offer No Improvement in TBI Patients](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/11/citicoline-appears-to-offer-no.html) 6/24/24 11:16 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/11/citicoline-appears-to-offer-no.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Computer_memory_exercises_shutterstock_73220944-Jun-24-2025-04-31-33-7710-PM.jpg?height=200&name=Computer_memory_exercises_shutterstock_73220944-Jun-24-2025-04-31-33-7710-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/07/computer-memory-exercises-can-up-senior.html) ## [Computer Memory Exercises Can "Bulk Up" Senior Memories](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/07/computer-memory-exercises-can-up-senior.html) 7/8/13 12:00 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/07/computer-memory-exercises-can-up-senior.html) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Psychiatric News Alert", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert" }, "dateModified" : "2026-06-22T14:02:31.034Z", "datePublished" : "2026-06-22T14:02:31.000Z", "headline" : "Banning Smartphone in School May Not Do Much for Mental Health", "image" : [ "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/smartphone_school_iStock-2210255295.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/banning-smartphone-in-school-may-not-do-much-for-mental-health", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/PN-Blue-Box.jpg" } } } ```