A study of 192 teenagers found that time away from phones and social media was linked to stronger belonging, better focus and improved wellbeing, particularly among those who began camp feeling stressed.
A study led in part by researchers at the University of California, San Diego has found that children and teenagers who spent time at a device-free summer camp reported better wellbeing, with the biggest improvements among those who had started out feeling most stressed. The work, which tracked 192 campers aged 12 to 18 at an overnight programme in southern Maine during the summers of 2024 and 2025, offers a rare look at how a sustained break from phones, tablets, computers and social media may affect young people. According to Susan Tapert, a UC San Diego psychiatry professor and co-author of the research, the camp provided “a rare natural experiment” because many teenagers gave up devices at the same time, in the same setting. The study was funded by Rady Children’s Hospital.
The campers stayed for either two or three and a half weeks in a setting built around outdoor time, social contact and a daily rhythm that included elective activities such as tennis, waterskiing, community service and cooking. Participants completed paper questionnaires at the start and end of camp, allowing researchers to measure changes in wellbeing, worry and restlessness. Tara Thiagarajan, the study’s principal investigator and founder of Sapien Labs, said the team wanted to understand how surroundings and everyday routines shape mental health. The results pointed to gains in adaptability and resilience, along with better focus and a stronger sense of belonging.
The study reported that 44% of campers felt a stronger sense of belonging at camp than at school, while 40% said it was easier to make friends there. Overall, 80% said they felt a strong sense of belonging at camp, compared with 65% at school, and more than half said they liked being without devices. Young people who initially described themselves as stressed or struggling saw the largest median improvement in their assessment scores. Benjamin Maxwell, another co-author and an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego, said the findings reinforce the idea that children tend to thrive when they have time with friends, physical activity, outdoor time, good sleep and nutritious food.
Even so, the researchers cautioned that the study was observational and did not include a control group. That means it cannot separate the effect of leaving devices behind from the wider benefits of camp life itself, including sleep, exercise, meals and social connection. The findings nevertheless fit with a growing body of research. A 2025 study found that blocking mobile internet on smartphones improved sustained attention, mental health and subjective wellbeing for most participants, while a 2026 review of youth summer camps concluded that structured time in nature can support young people’s mental, emotional and social health. Other recent work, including a controlled study in Japan of adolescents with problematic internet use, has also pointed to the potential value of device-free settings. Maxwell said families may be able to bring some of those benefits home through more time outdoors, regular bedtimes, time with friends and moments when everyone gives one another full attention.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
