Excessive Media Use Research Articles

Interconnections of screen time with neuroinflammation.

The increasing prevalence of screen time among modern citizens has raised concerns regarding its potential impact on neuroinflammation and overall brain health. This review examines the complex interconnections between screen time and neuroinflammatory processes, particularly in children and adolescents. We analyze existing literature that explores how excessive digital media use can lead to alterations in neurobiological pathways, potentially exacerbating inflammatory responses in the brain. Key findings suggest that prolonged exposure to screens may contribute to neuroinflammation through mechanisms such as disrupted sleep patterns, diminished cognitive engagement, and increased stress levels. Similarly, we discuss the implications of these findings for mental health and cognitive development, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to screen time. This review highlights the necessity for further research to elucidate the causal relationships and underlying mechanisms linking screen time and neuroinflammation, thereby informing guidelines for healthy media consumption.

Excessive media use in class and university students’ academic performance: the mediation effect of online vigilance and gender differences

ABSTRACT It is prevalent for university students to spend a large amount of time and effort on media use during classes. Previous studies have proposed that there is an inconsistent conclusion about the effect of excessive media use on academic performance; that is, some research proposes negative effect while the other argues no effect. Therefore, the present study draws on the Stimuli-Organism-Response (SOR) framework, and adopts online vigilance as the organism that mediates the relationship between three dimensions of excessive media use in class (i.e., excessive social use (ESU), excessive hedonic use (EHU), and excessive cognitive use (ECU) and academic performance. Gender differences about the effect of excessive media use in class are also tested. Our empirical findings (n = 457) indicate a full mediation of online vigilance, confirming its organism role. Gender differences of the effect of excessive media use are also confirmed. In addition, our post-doc analysis further indicated that the effect of ECU on academic performance is fully mediated by ESU/EHU and online vigilance. This study enriches the literature of excessive media use in educational area, and emphasizes the importance of university students’ psychological states over the media use per se when predicting academic performance.

Influence of Social Media on Educational and Mental Wellbeing of Young Minds: A Critical Analysis

This study underscores the serious impact social media has on young people's educational and mental well-being. It emphasises the possible dangers of excessive and unrestrained social media use and how it can pose a detrimental impact on people's mental health worldwide, especially among youth. Empirical evidence repeatedly indicates that social media platforms can elicit emotions of jealousy and social comparison, exacerbating emotional well-being-related problems. Furthermore, the pressure to preserve a polished online persona can increase stress and anxiety leading to a negative impact on their wellbeing and academic achievement. Achieving a balance between the advantages of social media and its possible disadvantages is crucial for educators and politicians navigating this digital terrain. The study finds that social media has a profound effect on young people's behaviour, attitudes, and even cognitive processes, which can affect their academic achievement and psychological health in general. To effectively mitigate the negative effects of social media on today's young, policies and interventions must take these dynamics into account.

The Association of Lifestyle Factors and Attention Problems in Adolescents

OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the associations between lifestyle factors such as physical activity, sleep patterns, media usage, and diet, and attention problems in adolescents. METHODS This cross-sectional study involved 4,370 adolescents aged 13-18 years in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Lifestyle factors were assessed using the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System questionnaire, while attention problems were evaluated with the Youth Self-Report (YSR) Attention Problems subscale. Associations were analyzed using univariable and multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS Media use exceeding two hours per day was significantly asso-ciated with clinical attention problems (aOR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.81-5.71). Additionally, increased media use (b = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.19-0.28, p < 0.01), and high soft drinks consumption (b = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.12-0.26, p < 0.01) were positively associated with higher attention problem scores. Conversely, active physical activity (b = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.13 to -0.05, p < 0.01), adequate sleep (b = -0.26, 95% CI: -0.33 to -0.19, p < 0.01), regular breakfast intake (b = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.12 to -0.05, p < 0.01), vegetable consumption (b = -0.07, 95% CI: -0.13 to -0.02, p = 0.01), and milk consumption (b = -0.06, 95% CI: -0.11 to -0.01, p = 0.03) were negatively associated with attention problems scores. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the significant impact of lifestyle factors on attention problems among adolescents. These findings support the integration of lifestyle modifications into the assessment and manage-ment of attention issues in this age group, particularly emphasizing the need to reduce excessive media use. KEYWORDS lifestyle factors, dietary patterns, attention problems, ADHD, adolescence

Environmental Risk Factors Associated with Behavioral Problems among Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Maternal Perceptions

OBJECTIVE This study aims to identify environmental risk factors associated with behavioral problems in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS A case-control study was conducted in children aged 4-15 years comprising 92 children diagnosed with ADHD and 92 controls without ADHD. Stratified sampling was used to select 184 participants residing in Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces, Thailand. Data were collected from the mothers of the participants using a self-report questionnaire between May and August 2022. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: child characteristics (gender, age, underlying diseases, past illness history), mother’s characteristics (age, income, occupational status, history of cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking), and maternal perceptions about caring for the child and the child’s behavioral problems (exposure to chemicals/toxicants, frequent punishment, excessive use of digital media and games). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared test, odds ratio (OR) and logistic regression using SPSS version 21. RESULTS Most of participants were males (86.96%) while 13.04% were females. The results showed that the ADHD cases were significantly more likely than the controls to have underlying diseases such as G6PD, allergy, and asthma (p = 0.006). There was also a statistically significant correlation with smoking history in the mothers of ADHD cases (OR = 2.64; 95% CI: 1.36-5.13 p = 0.004). In terms of maternal perceptions, the mothers of ADHD children were significantly more likely than the controls to have frequently punished the child (OR = 6.26; 95% CI: 3.24-12.07; p < 0.001), to have children who were exposed to chemicals (pesticides and fertilizer) or toxicants (passive smoking) (OR = 4.14; 95%CI: 1.76-9.73; p = 0.001), and to have allowed their child to use digital media and play video games excessively (OR = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.55-5.16; p = 0.001). After adjustment for other environmental risk factors, frequent child punishment (ORadj = 4.32; 95% CI: 2.13-8.78; p < 0.001) and exposure of the child to chemicals/toxicants (ORadj = 2.66; 95% CI: 1.00-7.02; p = 0.049) were found to be significantly related with ADHD. CONCLUSIONS Frequent child punishment was the most significant environmental risk factor related to behavioral problems among children with ADHD. This indicates the importance of healthcare providers developing strategies and/or interventions to enhance knowledge and awareness in mothers of ADHD which can improve treatment outcomes. KEYWORDS ADHD, risk factors, behavioral problems, maternal percep- tions

Melukis Kembali Penggambaran Citra Gender dalam Media Massa

In Netflix’s 'Ice Cold,' which delves into the murder of Jessica by Mirna, she is often praised and forgiven for her beauty. The documentary even states that the killer is a handsome figure. Women seem to be forced to conform to the image of modern women, who should hold feminist paradigms. Digital television content, as one of the mass media platforms, often portrays women as limited to the role of 'subordinates.' The existence of women is frequently reduced solely to their physical dimensions. It is as if advertisements and television programs would feel empty without the presence of women celebrated as objects. This perspective eventually becomes ingrained in the minds of modern women, largely through the influence of mass media, while commercial demands and the race for the highest ratings are the primary reasons why women continue to be used as complementary objects in various media content.This research employs Roland Barthes' Semiotics to explore how religious education, the male gaze, mass media, and societal views interact in shaping the contemporary perception of the female body. Ironically, the excessive use of patriarchal media has made women feel more liberated to express themselves and actualize their potential in various aspects of life. In this context, elements of religious education play a crucial role, as some Abrahamic religious teachings promote gender hierarchies that can influence society's perception of women and result in gender inequality. The concept of the male gaze is also relevant in this analysis, as it refers to how the male perspective dominates the understanding and representation of women in media, often reducing women to objects of male sexual desire. This research can offer valuable insights into the interconnection of these perspectives and women's potential for increased self-expression within patriarchal-dominated environments.

Excessive Screen-Based Media Use and Its Relation to Sleep Pattern of School Age Children

Excessive Screen-Based Media Use and Its Relation to Sleep Pattern of School Age Children

Case report: Nighttime media restriction for pediatric insomnia

This report describes the case of a 13-year-old boy with chronic insomnia and increased daytime sleepiness linked to excessive nocturnal media use. Implementing a restriction on digital device usage after 9 pm led to a significant improvement in the sleep duration with no adverse event. Throughout the 16-week treatment period, the total sleep time of the patient normalized, and the daytime sleepiness problem was resolved. This is an indication that the treatment was effective. This case emphasizes the potential of nighttime screentime restriction in treating pediatric chronic insomnia and highlights the importance of addressing screen time in sleep disorder management.

Screenagerns generation: challenges and possibilities for teachers and schools

This study aims to address the generation of screenagers and education, as well as the impact that technology has caused in today's society, causing many positive factors such as greater productivity, Big Data, capable of storing and managing large data. But it also has serious negative consequences for the lives of many, especially for mental health, especially children, adolescents and the generation known today as screenagers. Generation Y and Z, which are two generations considered digital natives and screenagers make up generation Z. However, this study also reflects on the impact of multitasking on the lives of these young people and its consequences on education. As well as the challenges for teachers and schools to manage conflicts between the generation of screenagers and teachers who have a very different view of student behavior. As well as possibilities and solutions, such as adaptive platforms. As it is a bibliographical research, important contributions were described by authors who dominate on such subjects and address the excessive use of digital media, such as Richard Watson, who reflects on the impacts of multitasking on the lives of people who, according to him, results in racing thinking, poor concentration, and memory loss; the aforementioned author defends the balance between digital media and free activities or even reading a physical book, where it stimulates concentration, calm mentality and deep reflection.

Risk-taking and self-harm behaviors as markers of adolescent borderline personality disorder

Adolescence is a critical period for early identification and intervention of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Risk-taking and self-harm behaviors (RSB) have been identified as promising early markers of BPD and correlates of depression in school-based samples. The present study aimed, first, to examine the association between RSB and BPD in a clinical sample of adolescents and, second, to examine whether RSB are also linked to depression. N = 405 participants (82.7% female) were recruited from an outpatient clinic for adolescents with RSB. RSB assessed included truancy, excessive media use, alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use, sexual risk-taking, and self-harm behavior. Regression analyses and generalized linear models were performed to examine the associations between individual RSB or patterns of RSB (identified using latent class analysis, LCA) and a diagnosis and severity of BPD or depression. All RSB (except excessive media use) were positively associated with BPD diagnosis and severity. In contrast, only non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts were positively associated with depression diagnosis and severity, while illicit drug use was negatively associated with depression severity. The LCA yielded two classes differing in the occurrence of RSB. The high RSB class was more likely to have a BPD diagnosis and greater BPD severity than the low RSB class. Classes did not differ regarding depression diagnosis or severity. As NSSI and suicide attempts were associated with both BPD and depression, the presence of additional RSB, besides self-harm behavior, may represent a specific risk marker for BPD in adolescents.

Screen time vs. scream time: Developmental interrelations between young children's screen time, negative affect, and effortful control

This study aimed to examine developmental relations of screen time, negative affect and effortful control in children aged 12–36 months. Parents of 462 children up to 3 years of age at the start of the study (M = 1.28 years, SD = 0.61; 50% female) participated in four assessments within 10 months. Parents reported their children's screen time, negative affect, and effortful control at each assessment in a diary study. Results of multivariate Bayesian multilevel growth modeling revealed correlations between growth parameters of (1) children's screen time and their negative affect and (2) children's negative affect and their effortful control but not between growth parameters of (3) children's screen time and their effortful control. Overall, these results indicate that children's screen time may be associated with their negative affect independently of their effortful control. Hence, we found no evidence of displacement in the development of self-regulatory strategies in children of parents with higher levels of education. Future research on this topic should focus on children's excessive screen media use, considering contextual and content-related screen media factors and other factors in the child's immediate and broader environment.

Tiktok Media Overload Emotional Balance in Digitalization

The TikTok application is an application that is widely downloaded by the public. The problem in this article concerns the excessive use of TikTok media which continuously causes emotional imbalance and affects individual mental health. Emotional imbalance due to the influence of TikTok media is a problem that often occurs among teenagers and even adults. The purpose of this article is to find out how emotional balance in digitalization affects individual mental health. The research method used by the author is literature study which consists of data collection, selection and clarification of data sources, data analysis and compiling reports. The results obtained from the literature study show that digitalization has made social media a daily need for individuals. This need can cause addiction to the user. Excessive use of TikTok media causes anxiety due to social communication, negative content, and negative comments causing the individual's emotional balance to be disturbed due to changes in mood. Emotional balance that is not optimal affects mental health and can result in stress, depression and high anxiety disorders. Excessive use will also result in addiction and have a negative impact on emotional balance, mental and physical health. Every individual needs to maintain and supervise the use of social media, especially TikTok . Individuals can use time management and limit their use of TikTok media to maintain emotional balance.

Interpersonal Communication Between Parents-Children in Increasing Children's Protection from Cyberbullying

In this digital era, children are very vulnerable to being exposed to the risks and dangers of technological developments, especially social media. Such as inappropriate content, online violence, cyber bullying, and many other impacts of technology and media. For this reason, it is important for parents to increase their children's protection from media exposure and the influence of technology in this digital era. Therefore, interpersonal communication between parents and children must be improved to protect children from the bad influences of media and technology. Parents need to improve good communication with their children so that they are willing to tell stories and share experiences about the problems they are facing, so that children feel comfortable and have a place to share their stories. Apart from that, parents also need to provide education regarding technology and its impacts and know the risks they will face, so that children can be more efective and wise in dealing with technological developments. The way that can be done is to provide adequate supervision and limit children's excessive use of media, so as to minimize the impact they will receive. This research article aims to determine interpersonal communication between parents and children so that it is effective and can increase protection for children from developments in digital technology such as cyberbullying. This research article uses qualitative methods with descriptive data processing techniques.

Systematic review: Characteristics and outcomes of in-school digital media literacy interventions, 2010-2021

ABSTRACT This systematic review examines characteristics and outcomes of interventions for teaching digital media literacy in the educational system. Despite the development of media technology and the importance ascribed to digital media literacy as one of the critical skills for the 21st century, this study reveals that little research has been carried out evaluating interventions for teaching digital media literacy in schools. The successful intervention outcomes identified in this review include an increased understanding of media content and greater awareness of media influence, a more critical approach to media, increases in feelings of competency and empowerment with regard to media use, increases in digital media content production skills, and reduction in excessive or risky media use. The review finds that more consistent positive outcomes were associated with younger target audiences, the incorporation of a practical component within the intervention, and the extended duration or higher number of sessions of intervention administration. The studies reviewed identified some challenges to achieving successful outcomes in such interventions, namely that media technologies are an intrinsic part of children’s everyday lives today.

Problematic Social Media Use and Lifestyle Behaviors in Adolescents: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.

The use of social media by adolescents has increased considerably in the past decade. With this increase in social media use in our daily lives, there has been a rapidly expanding awareness of the potential unhealthy lifestyle-related health effects arising from excessive, maladaptive, or addictive social media use. This study aims to assess the association between adolescents' social media use and health-related behaviors. We used a cross-sectional research approach and analyzed data from 96,919 adolescents at high schools throughout the Netherlands. A structured 43-item questionnaire was used to gather data on sociodemographics, dietary and lifestyle factors, and the degree of social media use based on the Compulsive Internet Use Scale. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between problematic social media use (PSMU) and lifestyle behaviors while adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Of the 96,919 included adolescents, 7.4% (n=7022) were identified as at risk for PSMU. Furthermore, logistic regression results showed that adolescents who are at risk for PSMU were more likely to report alcohol consumption and smoking while simultaneously having significantly lower levels of health-promoting behavior such as healthy eating habits (eating fruits, vegetables, and breakfast regularly) and physical activity. This study confirms that adolescents at risk of PSMU were more likely to exhibit an unhealthy lifestyle. Being at risk for PSMU was a determinant of soft drug use, alcohol consumption, smoking, poor eating habits, and lower physical activity independent of the additional adjusted covariates including demographic variables and remaining lifestyle variables. Future research is needed to confirm this observation in an experimental setting.

Screen Media Use Affects Subcortical Structures, Resting-State Functional Connectivity, and Mental Health Problems in Early Adolescence.

The association between excessive screen media use and mental health problems has attracted widespread attention. The literature to date has neglected the biological mechanisms underlying such a relationship and failed to distinguish between different types of screen media activities. A sample from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study was used in the present study to elucidate the longitudinal associations between specific types of screen media use, brain development, and diverse mental health problems. The results showed that different types of screen media use have differentiated associations with mental health problems, subcortical volume, and cortical-subcortical connectivity. Specifically, more passive media use was associated with increased rule-breaking behavior, while more video game playing was associated with increased withdrawn/depressed symptoms. In addition, more social media use was associated with a reduced volume of the hippocampus, caudate, and thalamus proper. More research is needed to examine the differential effects of screen media use on neurodevelopmental processes and mental health problems across adolescence.

Screen Time and Developmental Performance Among Children at 1-3 Years of Age in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

It is unclear whether increased television (TV) and DVD viewing in early childhood from age 1 year decreases development or whether poor development increases TV/DVD viewing. To investigate the directional association between TV/DVD screen time and performance on developmental screeners in children aged 1 to 3 years. This longitudinal cohort study analyzed data from 57 980 children and mothers from a national birth cohort, the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Data were collected in collaboration with 15 regional centers across Japan. The mothers were recruited between January 2011 and March 2014. Analyses using random intercept, cross-lagged panel models were performed for children aged 1, 2, and 3 years. Of 100 303 live births, children with missing developmental screening test scores and screen time data, those with congenital diseases or cerebral palsy, and those diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder were excluded. Statistical analyses were conducted from October 2022 to July 2023. TV and DVD screen time. Child development at ages 1, 2, and 3 years was assessed via the mother's or guardian's report using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, third edition. Of 57 980 included children, 29 418 (50.7%) were male, and the mean (SD) maternal age at delivery was 31.5 (4.9) years. A negative association between screen time and developmental scores was observed. Increased TV/DVD screen times at age 1 and 2 years were associated with lower developmental scores at age 2 and 3 years, respectively (2 years: β = -0.05; 95% CI, -0.06 to -0.04; 3 years: β = -0.08; 95% CI, -0.09 to -0.06). An obverse association was observed from the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, third edition, score in the communication domain at age 1 and 2 years to subsequent screen time (2 years: γ = -0.03; 95% CI, -0.04 to -0.02; 3 years: γ = -0.06; 95% CI, -0.07 to -0.04). In this study, increased TV/DVD screen time from age 1 year negatively affected later development. To reduce the negative consequences of excessive media use, researchers and health care professionals should encourage family media management and recommend social support for parents who tend to rely on the media.

Predicting primary and middle-school students’ preferences for online learning with machine learning

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to student psychological wellness. Because of isolation, lack of socialisation and intellectual and physical development from excessive media use, primary and secondary school students are at high risk for health problems.Aim: This study aimed to identify the most effective machine learning model for predicting the offline and online instructional strategies students would choose during a pandemic.Setting: The study was carried out at a number of primary and middle schools in Hyderabad, India.Methods: We evaluated the data using machine learning methods such as logistic regression, K-nearest neighbour (KNN), decision trees, bagging and boosting using the Python programming language.Results: In this study, 414 instances were collected from different schools. Exploratory data analysis showed that few students chose online courses. According to the research, very few students choose online classes, and the majority of students favoured offline classes over online because of physical and mental health difficulties; online education effects include a lack of social and peer relationships that affects young children psychologically, and they may not be disciplined enough to resist internet diversions. Smartphones, laptops, etc., affect their vision, causing headaches and impaired eyesight.Conclusion: The KNN was the most accurate machine learning algorithm, with 92.13% accuracy to fits the data to identify the preferences of online education.Contribution: This article examined the perspectives of primary and middle-school children on online education. Most students in this survey also reported experiencing mental or physical health issues that made online education difficult for them. Machine learning algorithms were applied to identify the most effective model for predicting students’ online and offline study preferences. This machine learning method will help schools improve their course delivery methods, allowing students to continue their studies without interruption.

The Impact of using the Internet and Social Media on Sleep in a group of Secondary School Students from Baghdad

Background: Insufficient sleep due to excessive media use is linked to decrease physical activity, poor nutrition, obesity, and decreased overall health-related quality of life. Objectives: To assess the effect of using the internet and social media on the sleep of 4th-stage secondary school students. Subjects and Methods: Cross-sectional study with the analytic element; for 500 secondary school students, obtained by choosing two schools randomly from each of the six educational directorates, by using a structured questionnaire. Result: Secondary school students are involved in this study (n = 500). The study reveals that the majority of students 350 (69.7 %) were aged group (16) years old, Regarding the internet, used by the majority of the 454(90.4%), and 419 (83.5%) students had a mobile phone, 206(41.1%) of them using the internet more than 150 hours per month and concerning the students sleep; Unexplained tiredness in the morning 182(36.3%) was sometimes complained from it, about Nightmares, 187(37.3%) of students sometimes having it, 276(55%) of them wake up during sleep. Conclusion: students are using the internet more than one-fifth of their time per month, there is an association between the use of social media and short sleep duration among secondary school students that increases daytime sleepiness, unexplained tiredness in the morning, and nightmares.

The influence of media use degree on public depressive symptoms: mediating role of big five personality

BackgroundMixed results have been found regarding the relationship between media use degree and depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between media use degree, big five personality and depressive symptoms with a mediation model.MethodThis was a cross-sectional study. With 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), 10-item Big Five Inventory (BFI-10) and self-designed media usage scale, 11,031 participants aged 12 and above in 120 cities in China were collected. Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis were performed on the data. The Process plug-in was used to construct the mediation model and explore the relationship among media use degree, big five personality and depressive symptoms. The nonparametric percentile Bootstrap method was used to test the mediating effect of personality traits.ResultsThe degree of media use was positively correlated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.20, P < 0.001), and big five personality played a mediating role between the degree of media use and depressive symptoms. Among five traits, extroversion (r=-0.12, P < 0.001), conscientiousness (r=-0.23, P < 0.001), openness (r=-0.03, P < 0.01) and agreeableness (r=-0.22, P < 0.001) were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms, and neuroticism (r = 0.25, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with depressive symptoms. In addition, extraversion (-0.004, -0.001), conscientiousness (-0.015, -0.008), agreeableness (-0.008, -0.001) and neuroticism (-0.015, -0.007) in big five personality played a mediating role between media use and depressive symptoms.ConclusionThe degree of media use positively predicted depressive symptoms, and excessive media use may bring risks to mental health. People with high neuroticism, low agreeableness, low conscientiousness and low extroversion are more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms.