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- Research has shown negative associations between screen time, particularly television viewing, and the development of physical and cognitive abilities. Additionally, screen time has been linked to obesity, sleep problems, depression, and anxiety.
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2 days ago · By Lizz Dinnigan, Preventionist. The effects of excessive screen time on childhood development have become a growing concern among parents and educators alike. Various studies show negative risks to children’s cognitive, linguistic and social-emotional growth, as well as to mental and physical health, making it a pressing public health concern.
Aug 13, 2023 · (CBC) A new report from Western University has found too much screen use is having an impact on children's mental health. The findings are concerning but parents can take steps to...
Jun 18, 2023 · This study examines the effects of screen time on many developmental domains and covers management and limitation techniques for kids' screen usage. Screen media has a wide range of cognitive consequences, with both beneficial and detrimental effects noted.
- Overview
- Why using devices to calm kids may backfire
- Steps parents can take
Two new studies show associations between screen time and behavioral and psychological risks for children, adding to a growing body of evidence that excessive use of smartphones and other devices can be deleterious to their health.
In one study, researchers reported a link between screen time and higher rates of obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnoses among preteens. In the other, the results suggested that using electronic devices to calm youngsters when they’re upset may inhibit their ability to learn to soothe themselves, leading to more frequent, intense emotional outbursts.
The studies, published in separate journals on Monday, followed their young participants to observe the effects of screen time over months or years.
The study on OCD was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health and tracked more than 9,200 children for two years, starting at ages 9 to 10. Researchers logged how much time the kids spent on devices and found that 4.4% qualified for a new OCD diagnosis.
The odds of developing the disorder over the study period increased by 15% for every hour a kid played video games, and by 11% for every hour that they watched videos, according to the findings.
Texting, video chatting and social media use were not connected with a higher risk of developing OCD, but that may be because this cohort did not yet use these much, the authors pointed out.
The other study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, looked at children ages 3 to 5. Unlike previous research that examined the effects of screen usage, this one focused on parents giving children devices during “emotional moments — times when the kids were crying, whining and needing some help calming down,” said lead study author Dr. Jenny Radesky.
Radesky, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, said “device-calming” was correlated with an increase in emotional outbursts in certain children: generally young boys and kids who already show hyperactivity, impulsiveness and intense reactions when angry.
These kids “have bigger emotions,” she said. “They’re more likely to just want something and want it now, and are honestly harder to parent.”
The study included 422 parents and 422 children. Data collection ended in January 2020, with participants followed for six months.
Devices can backfire because they can calm children and distract them during tantrums, but they may not deter them from repeating such outbursts, Radesky said.
“Whenever a negative behavior is followed by something pleasing, that’s going to unintentionally and accidentally reinforce it.”
The two studies are not cause for panic, but their findings reinforce the importance of seeking balance in a child’s life when it comes to smartphones and tablets, said Mitch Prinstein, the chief science officer for the American Psychological Association, who was not involved in either study.
“What people need to remember is the more time that kids are on screen, that means there’s less time that they’re getting a lot of things that we know are incredibly important for child development, including interaction with adults, sleep, opportunities to read and conversations that are more interactive with nonverbal cues,” he said.
Nagata reiterated that.
“Just because their kid is playing video games doesn’t mean they’re definitely going to develop OCD,” he said. “There’s some kids who have 10 hours or more of video games every day. That really can add up.”
Radesky, meanwhile, encouraged parents to talk through their children’s feelings with them.
She said that if parents are noticing that kids, “specifically your boys, are struggling with handling frustration or knowing what to do when they’re having a big emotion or getting really frustrated when they can’t do something on their own, take a moment to label the feeling.”
- Senior Writer
- 6 min
Nov 24, 2022 · This updated statement re-examines the potential benefits and risks of screen exposure and use on children younger than 5 years old. Screen time is the time spent with any screen, including television, computers, and gaming or mobile devices (smartphones, tablets).
Study habits and length of screen time. Many kids and teens have study habits of sitting on the bed or floor working on tablets or laptops for hours at a time. This position results in a hunched posture with no support for the back and causes the child to hold the neck flexed while looking down at the study materials.
Aug 24, 2023 · Children who spend more time in front of screens have been shown to eat more fast food and less fruits and vegetables and get less sleep and exercise. Therefore, it is very important to incorporate healthy lifestyle choices as part of the daily routine, as well as limiting screen time.
