Smartphone, social media use's effect on OCD, happiness and loneliness
UC Blue Ash expert featured in Allentown, Pennsylvania's WFMZ-TV report
The U.S. ranks 23rd in the latest World Happiness Report, dropping several spots.
Experts say there is widespread concern about an emerging epidemic of loneliness. The National Library of Medicine says social media could be fueling these lonely feelings.
“When people are more prone to being bored, they’re going to be more likely to use their smartphone to address their uncertainty,” said Alex J. Holte, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College.
Holte and undergraduate student researchers published findings that smartphone usage can increase and even become unhealthy for those who have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a psychiatric disorder with symptoms related to unwanted and distressing thoughts that can lead to repetitive and disruptive behaviors.
Watch or read the WFMZ-TV report.
Featured image at top: A person uses an iPhone. Photo/Onur Binay via Unsplash
Related Stories
UC summer program gives high school students hands-on research experience
March 18, 2026
The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine is expanding its Medical Sciences Summer Institute (MSSI) this year with a new medical informatics track.
Recent advances may speed time to endometriosis diagnosis
March 16, 2026
The average time to clinical diagnosis of endometriosis is nine years. Definitive diagnosis of the disease is difficult, and until recently, has relied on laparoscopic surgery. Now, as Medscape recently reported, novel clinical recommendations, advanced diagnostic tools and research into inflammation and immune responses, are bringing promise that women with endometriosis will find relief sooner and without surgery, according to experts, including Katie Burns, PhD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine associate professor.
Position-specific helmets may not improve protection
March 16, 2026
Local 12 highlighted a new study by biomedical engineering researchers that looked at how well new football helmets protected players from impacts that can cause concussions.