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Smartphone Use and Academic Performance: Correlation or Causal Relationship?

Author

Listed:
  • Stijn Baert
  • Sunčica Vujić
  • Simon Amez
  • Matteo Claeskens
  • Thomas Daman
  • Arno Maeckelberghe
  • Eddy Omey
  • Lieven De Marez

Abstract

After a decade of correlational research, this study attempts to measure the causal impact of (general) smartphone use on educational performance. To this end, we merge survey data on general smartphone use, exogenous predictors of this use, and other drivers of academic success with the exam scores of first‐year students at two Belgian universities. The resulting data are analysed with instrumental variable estimation techniques. A one‐standard‐deviation increase in daily smartphone use yields a decrease in average exam scores of about one point (out of 20). When relying on ordinary least squares estimations, the magnitude of this effect is substantially underestimated. The negative association between smartphone use and exam results is more outspoken for students (i) with highly educated fathers, (ii) with divorced parents and (iii) who are in good health. Policy‐makers should at least invest in information and awareness campaigns of teachers and parents to highlight this trade‐off between smartphone use and academic performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Stijn Baert & Sunčica Vujić & Simon Amez & Matteo Claeskens & Thomas Daman & Arno Maeckelberghe & Eddy Omey & Lieven De Marez, 2020. "Smartphone Use and Academic Performance: Correlation or Causal Relationship?," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(1), pages 22-46, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:kyklos:v:73:y:2020:i:1:p:22-46
    DOI: 10.1111/kykl.12214
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    Cited by:

    1. Gómez-Fernández, Nerea & Mediavilla, Mauro, 2021. "Exploring the relationship between Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and academic performance: A multilevel analysis for Spain," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    2. Amez, Simon & Baert, Stijn, 2021. "Bye, bye, Hotel Mama, bye, bye good grades? Living in a student room and exam results in tertiary education," GLO Discussion Paper Series 885, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    3. Minami, Ryuto & Ogawa, Keiichi, 2025. "Mind the gap: Uncovering student’s learning achievement disparities in Cambodian urban and rural secondary schools," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    4. Han, Sunyoung, 2022. "Impact of smartphones on students: How age at first use and duration of usage affect learning and academic progress," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    5. Amez, Simon & Vujić, Sunčica & De Marez, Lieven & Baert, Stijn, 2019. "Smartphone Use and Academic Performance: First Evidence from Longitudinal Data," GLO Discussion Paper Series 438, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    6. Simon Amez & Suncica Vujic & Margo Abrath & Stijn Baert, 2021. "Deteriorated sleep quality does not explain the negative impact of smartphone use on academic performance," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 21/1019, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    7. Eline Moens & Louis Lippens & Philippe Sterkens & Johannes Weytjens & Stijn Baert, 2022. "The COVID-19 crisis and telework: a research survey on experiences, expectations and hopes," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 23(4), pages 729-753, June.
    8. Hugues Sampasa-Kanyinga & Hayley A. Hamilton & Gary S. Goldfield & Jean-Philippe Chaput, 2022. "Problem Technology Use, Academic Performance, and School Connectedness among Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-14, February.
    9. Stijn Baert & Sunčica Vujić & Simon Amez & Matteo Claeskens & Thomas Daman & Arno Maeckelberghe & Eddy Omey & Lieven De Marez, 2020. "Smartphone Use and Academic Performance: Correlation or Causal Relationship?," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(1), pages 22-46, February.
    10. Leo Röhlke, 2024. "Changes in early adolescents' time use after acquiring their first mobile phone. An empirical test of the displacement hypothesis," University of Bern Social Sciences Working Papers 49, University of Bern, Department of Social Sciences.
    11. Baert, Stijn & Lippens, Louis & Moens, Eline & Sterkens, Philippe & Weytjens, Johannes, 2020. "How do we think the COVID-19 crisis will affect our careers (if any remain)?," GLO Discussion Paper Series 520, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    12. Danilo B. Buctot & Nami Kim & Sun-Hee Kim, 2021. "Personal Profiles, Family Environment, Patterns of Smartphone Use, Nomophobia, and Smartphone Addiction across Low, Average, and High Perceived Academic Performance Levels among High School Students in the Philippines," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-19, May.
    13. Abrahamsson, Sara, 2024. "Smartphone Bans, Student Outcomes and Mental Health," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 1/2024, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    14. Naveed Hayat & Muhammad Imran & Shabbir Ahmad & Adnan Ali Shahzad & Jamshaid ur Rehman, 2022. "The Effect of Mobile Phone Use on the Students’ Budget, Social Behavior and Academic Performance: A Case Study of Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, Pakistan," Journal of Policy Research (JPR), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 8(3), pages 122-134, September.
    15. D A Akuratiya, 2024. "Impact of Smartphone Usage on Academic Performance: A Study on Higher Education Students," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(3s), pages 43-51, March.
    16. Sergio Nieves-Pavón & Natalia López-Mosquera & Manuel Jesús Sánchez González, 2025. "Unlocking Tourist Motivations in a Smart Tourism Destination: An Application of the Push–Pull Theory," Societies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, March.
    17. Aksoy, Billur & Lusher, Lester & Carrell, Scott, 2025. "From distraction to dedication: Commitment and incentives against phone use in the classroom," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    18. Yuan Wang & Liping Yang & Jun Wu & Zisheng Song & Li Shi, 2022. "Mining Campus Big Data: Prediction of Career Choice Using Interpretable Machine Learning Method," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-18, April.
    19. Amez, Simon & Denecker, Floor & Ponnet, Koen & De Marez, Lieven & Baert, Stijn, 2021. "Mobile DNA and Sleep Quality," IZA Discussion Papers 14816, IZA Network @ LISER.
    20. Melina A. Throuvala & Mark D. Griffiths & Mike Rennoldson & Daria J. Kuss, 2021. "Perceived Challenges and Online Harms from Social Media Use on a Severity Continuum: A Qualitative Psychological Stakeholder Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-26, March.
    21. Bai, Chen & Chen, Xiaomeng & Han, Keqing, 2020. "Mobile phone addiction and school performance among Chinese adolescents from low-income families: A moderated mediation model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    22. Nguemkap Kouamo, Romuald, 2024. "On and off line hate speech and academic performance in secondary education in Cameroon," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    23. Leonhardt, Calina & Danielsen, Dina & Andersen, Susan, 2025. "Associations between screen use, learning and concentration among children and young people in western countries: a scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    24. Rosa Angela Fabio & Rossella Suriano, 2024. "The Role of Smartphone Use in Sensory Processing: Differences Between Adolescents with ADHD and Typical Development," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(12), pages 1-13, December.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

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