Association of Screen Time with Physical and Mental Health Among Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The effects of digital screen use on the physical and mental health of a child are a debated area of research. Studies have established few harmful effects, but the usage among children remains to be high. There is less understanding of the pattern of the digital screen and application usage and its impact on physical and mental health in our population. Aims: To study the pattern of digital screen use among children (5-15 years) and its impact on their physical and mental health. Setting and design: Cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: Sociodemographic details of parents and their children, screen time-related questions, pediatric symptom checklist (PSC) for screening of mental health issues, and questions regarding physical health issues in children due to screen use. Statistical Analysis: Data was analyzed using R language. Results: There is a significant association between parents’ education, gender, and the number of children with screen time. YouTube followed by WhatsApp are the commonly used digital applications and smartphones followed by Smart TVs are the commonly used digital gadgets. The physical issues are less than the clinical cut-off values but significantly associated with screen time. Sleep disturbance and avoiding outdoor activity are frequently reported due to screen use. Conclusion: The study highlights the common usage pattern of various digital gadgets and applications among children and their parents; also the demographic factors of parents relating to increased screen time in children. There are no significant clinical mental health issues reported by parents, but a significant association is found between digital screen use with physical and mental health issues.