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High speed internet and the widening gender gap in adolescent mental health: Evidence from Spanish hospital records

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  • Arenas-Arroyo, Esther
  • Fernandez-Kranz, Daniel
  • Nollenberger, Natalia

Abstract

We exploit variations in fiber optic (FTTH) deployment to assess the impact of high-speed internet access on adolescent mental health. Our findings reveal that FTTH access increases addictive Internet usage and reduces time allocated to sleep, homework, as well as social interactions with family and friends. Access to FTTH increases mental health diagnoses in hospitals and contributes to a notable rise in adolescent suicide rates, particularly among girls. As new platforms and apps gain traction among adolescents, understanding the impact of connectivity improvement becomes important. This is especially relevant given the current FTTH growth replacing older broadband technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Arenas-Arroyo, Esther & Fernandez-Kranz, Daniel & Nollenberger, Natalia, 2025. "High speed internet and the widening gender gap in adolescent mental health: Evidence from Spanish hospital records," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:102:y:2025:i:c:s0167629625000499
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2025.103014
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    Cited by:

    1. Jacob N. Shapiro, 2024. "Instrumenting the Online Information Environment," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 715(1), pages 38-59, September.
    2. Ojha, Manini & Gupta, Sagnik Kumar & Dhamija, Gaurav, 2025. "Rewiring Gender Norms: Causal Evidence on Internet Exposure and Justification of Intimate Partner Violence," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1696, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    3. Fernández Guerrico, Sofía & Tojerow, Ilan, 2025. "The Effect of Broadband Internet on Mental Health-Related Disability Insurance Claims," IZA Discussion Papers 18130, IZA Network @ LISER.
    4. Alexey Makarin & Simona Mandile, 2025. "Social Media and Mental Health: The Role of Algorithms and Regulation," EconPol Forum, CESifo, vol. 26(04), pages 63-67, October.
    5. Gupta, Sagnik Kumar & Ojha, Manini & Dhamija, Gaurav, 2025. "Banking on Connectivity: Internet Exposure and Women's Financial Autonomy," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1697, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

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