Screen Time Use Research Articles

QuickStats: Percentage* of Children and Adolescents Aged 12-17 Years Who Participated in 60 Minutes of Physical Activity Most Days or Every Day,† by Daily Hours of Screen Time Use§ - United States, July 2021-December 2023.

QuickStats: Percentage* of Children and Adolescents Aged 12-17 Years Who Participated in 60 Minutes of Physical Activity Most Days or Every Day,† by Daily Hours of Screen Time Use§ - United States, July 2021-December 2023.

Insomnia severity and obesity mediated by health behaviors in adolescents.

Sleep difficulties in youth have been associated with numerous negative outcomes, such as higher risk of obesity. Though the relationship between sleep and obesity is not well clarified, past research has shown that modifiable health behaviors, such as diet, physical activity, and screen time, may explain this relationship. The purpose of this study was to simultaneously examine these health behaviors as mediators of the relationship between insomnia severity and obesity among a sample of adolescents aged 12-18years. English-speaking parents/legal guardians of adolescents were invited to participate in an online survey focused on pediatric sleep patterns, health behaviors, and weight. Parents/guardians (N = 599) reported on their adolescent's diet (i.e., consumption of fruits/vegetables, fast food, and breakfast), physical activity, screen time, and BMI. A multiple mediation analysis was run to test these health behaviors as mediators of the relationship between insomnia severity and BMI, after controlling for sex, age, race, and poverty. While insomnia was related to most health behaviors, screen time was the only significant mediator of the relationship between insomnia and BMI, after controlling for the effects of the other mediators and all covariates, ab = .04, 95% CrI [.01, .09]. Screen time has implications for both adolescents' sleep health and weight. Pediatric clinicians should systematically assess for, and provide, recommendations on ways to improve sleep and screen time use, in addition to providing traditional dietary and physical activity recommendations.

The association between electronic media use and quality of life (QoL) in Norwegian adolescents

Abstract Background The use of screens, especially mobile devices like tablets and smartphones have increased over the last years and have become an integrated part of modern life. Adolescents today spend a lot of their time using screens both at school and outside school. Identifying how screen use are related to QoL is necessary to plan effective policies and interventions in adolescence since it is the period where different behaviours are adopted. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between electronic media use and quality of life (QoL) among adolescents. Methods This study was based on self-reported cross-sectional data from the Young-Hunt4 study, conducted in 2017-2019. The target group comprised 8066 13-19 years old adolescents. QoL was measured with the Norwegian version of the Inventory of Life Quality (ILC). The ILC scale consists of seven items with four response alternatives. Electronic media use was measured using the two variables Social media use and Gaming. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the association between gaming, social media use and QoL. Results Preliminary results showed an inverse association between gaming (>3 hours per day) after school and quality of life (β: -.07, p < 0.001) and social media use (>3 hours per day) after school and quality of life (β = -.06, p < 0.001). Similar inverse associations were observed between gaming (>3 hours per day) in the weekend and quality of life (β: -.09, p < 0.001) and social media use (>3 hours per day) in the weekend and quality of life (β = -.04, p = 0.002). These associations remained significant after controlling for gender, age, family economy, psychological distress and having friends. Conclusions More than three hours on screens per day after school was negatively associated with QoL. Hence, public health policy and practice should pay attention to consequences of screen time use in adolescence. Additional research is needed to further explore these associations. Key messages • More frequent use of electronic media is negatively associated with QoL. • Public health policy and practice should pay attention to screen time in adolescence and its association with QoL.

22 Digital citizenship among children and youth with autism: Developing guidelines for promoting healthy screen time use

Abstract Background In response to the rising prevalence of screen-based usage among children, particularly those with autism, this study addresses the urgent need for tailored guidelines and strategies to support the digital citizenship and healthy screen time management of children and youth with autism. The currently available screen time guidelines do not adequately account for the specific requirements of autistic children, prompting an exploratory investigation into the information needs of clinicians and families in this domain. Objectives To develop clear and specific guidelines for caregivers and clinicians to facilitate the digital citizenship of children with autism. Design/Methods This multi-phase study was guided by the Knowledge to Action framework for knowledge development (figure 1). First, we identified the existing knowledge gaps regarding screen time use by conducting semi-structured interviews with 15 clinicians. Next, a Delphi method was employed, involving 30 experts in autism, comprising 20 clinicians and 10 caregivers. These experts participated in a series of three surveys, wherein they rated their agreement with a set of statements, encompassing potential guidelines and strategies. Statements that garnered agreement from over 75% of the panel were included in the final guidelines, which were categorized into six sections. In the last phase, evaluation and implementation of the guidelines were studied by asking parents and clinicians for their opinion on key criteria, including accessibility, relevance, clarity, usability, knowledge, and delivery. Results The 1st phase highlighted the need to create uniform recommendations for screen time management. The 2nd phase finalized a set of guidelines comprises six key sections, each playing a pivotal role in promoting healthy screen time use among children with autism: General principles; considerations related to the timing and content of leisure screen time; strategies for caregivers and clinicians to oversee and regulate screen time usage; behavioral indicators of screen time overuse; additional guidelines tailored for clinicians; and a section on resources. In the evaluation phase, participants responded positively and reported that disseminating the guidelines online is feasible and useful. Participant were satisfied with the key criteria with responses scoring between “Somewhat agree” and “Agree” across all domains. Please visit https://asdtechnology.osot.ubc.ca/screen-time-use-guidelines/ Conclusion The guidelines established through this collaborative effort between stakeholders in the autism community provide valuable insights and a tangible framework to address screen time overuse in children with autism. By identifying and addressing the unique needs of this population, these guidelines aim to assist clinicians and caregivers in nurturing healthy digital citizenship among autistic children.

Safe Use of Screen Time Among Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Study of the Efficacy of Yoga.

For students between the ages of 11 and 18, the estimated daily exposure to electronic media is around 1.5 hours, suggesting a growing trend in the amount of time spent in front of a screen. Increasing screen time use is related to sleep, mental health, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disorders, unhealthy diets, depressive symptoms, poor quality of life, and substance-behavioral addictions. The current study is a parallel-group, simple randomized controlledtrial (RCT). A total of 100 participants were randomized into a yoga group (YG) (n=50) and an attentional control group (CG) (n=50) by using an online randomizer. The YG received yoga practice, whereas the partially active CG received an educational program on digital hygiene. Students were assessed for screen time use, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), general well-being, depressive symptoms, and generalized anxiety following 12 weeks of intervention. The yoga group showed a significant decrease in the scores of SAS-SV, generalized anxiety, depressive symptoms, and screen time use after the intervention (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.01, and p<0.001, respectively). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant decrease in screen time use for all modes of total weekdays, weeknights, and weekends. Additionally, in the yoga group, the majority of the sub-factors of screen time use showed statistically significant changes; time spent on television showed a constant decrease in all modes such as weekdays, weeknights, and weekends. The result of the current study suggests that yoga practice hasa positive influence on screen usage behavior and associated health-related complications. More studies are required to understand if yoga practice can help mitigate the pleasure-seeking behavior that drives the excessive usage of screens.

Passive sensing of smartphone use, physical activity and sedentary behavior among adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research that links excessive screen time to adverse health outcomes is based on self-reported screen use. Few studies have documented how passively-sensed smartphone and app use relate to health behaviors like activity and sitting. Furthermore, they have not considered that daily fluctuations in smartphone/app use may have different relationships to these behaviors than a person's usual smartphone/app use. This study evaluated whether physical activity or sedentary (sitting) behavior are associated with either smartphone screen time or specific smartphone app use by adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adolescents and young adults aged 13-29 years wore activPAL4 micro activity monitors while their smartphones logged daily screen time and app use durations for nine days. Data were collected in 2020-2021 and analyzed in 2022-2023. Participants (N = 125) had a mean (SD) age of 19.7 (4.3) years. Participants' usual smartphone screen time was negatively associated with daily step counts. Daily deviations in smartphone screen time were negatively associated with daily step counts and moderate-vigorous physical activity durations. Time spent on Instagram, YouTube and, to a lesser extent, TikTok were linked with reduced activity levels. Daily sedentary behavior was not associated with usual or daily screen time. Interventions to promote physical activity during the transition into adulthood may benefit from limiting excessive smartphone screen time. Specific intervention targets could include limiting use of apps with infinite scrolling feeds algorithmically tuned to maintain user engagement, such as Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

Study of impact of screen exposure time on behavioural and growth parameters in urban Indian children

Background: The American academy of paediatrics (AAP) recommends 2 hours of screen time (ST) daily for children and teenagers, with no exposure for those under 2 years old. However, research shows children often exceed these limits, leading to behavioural issues, obesity, and unhealthy eating habits. This study aimed to evaluate STs impact on behaviour, growth, and eating habits in children aged 1.5 to 8 years. Methods: This cross sectional, observational study, conducted in the paediatric department, enrolled 401 children aged 1.5 to 8 years. Demographic details, weight, height, and BMI of the children were recorded. Parents provided information of their child's ST, screens at home, their own ST, and child’s eating habits. Behavioural parameters were evaluated using the child behaviour checklist (CBCL). Internalizing and Externalizing behaviours were also recorded in which internalizing factors comprised of anxious and somatic behaviours, while externalizing factors encompassed aggression and rule-breaking behaviours. Data analysis was performed using SPSS V.23. Results: In our study, 401 children were enrolled, comprising 233 females (58.10%) and 168 males (41.90%). Out of 401, 201 (50.12%) exceeded 2 hours of ST, while 159 (39.65%) had 1 to 2 hours, and only 41 (10.22%) had less than 1 hour. There was a strong significant association between children's ST and their internalizing (p=0.00034), externalizing (p=0.009), withdrawn (p=0.001), rule breaking (p=0.03) and aggressive (p&lt;0.01) behaviour. Additionally, children weight had a positive correlation between ST and BMI (p=0.015). Conclusions: Excessive ST use correlates well with higher BMIs, behavioural issues like withdrawal, somatic complaints, rule-breaking, aggression. Urgent interventions are needed to reduce ST and promote healthier lifestyles among children, involving parents, caregivers, and policymakers.Top of Form

B - 106 Exploring the Impact of Screentime Use on Children’s Development at Aged 2 to 12: a Systematic Review

Abstract Objective Children’s use of digital media and the internet has become part of their daily lives, thus increasing their average screentime (ST). Research warns about the impact of excessive ST on children’s development. This study aimed to identify the impact of ST on the development of children between the ages of 2 and 12. Data Selection A systematic review was conducted to gather and identify the impact of excessive ST (more than two hours a day) in children aged 2 to 12. The search was limited to the databases APA PsyInfo, PubMed, COBIMET, and Google Scholar. The studies considered were published in English and Spanish between 2019 and 2023. The search terms used included “screentime,” “digital media”, “children,” “smartphones,” “tablets,” and “development.” After review, a sample of nine studies was selected for analysis, considering their publication, sample, and main findings. The quality assessment was carried out using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Quasi-Experimental/Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies (Tufanaru, et al., 2020). Data Synthesis This systematic review identified that excessive ST negatively affects children’s development. Conclusions This study’s findings underscore the importance of limiting ST to less than two hours a day due to the potential for cognitive and motor skills impairment and socio-emotional dysregulation. Professionals should strive to educate parents on better practices for the appropriate use of digital screens in children from ages 2 to 12. Public policy should raise awareness, create programs, and establish policies that regulate advertising aimed at children on smart devices, as this could increase ST.

Educating adolescents on preventing substance use: The role of 24-h movement behaviors ─ data from 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance

BackgroundLittle is known about how adhering to the health guidelines for physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), and sleep duration (SD) relates to substance use in adolescents. Thus, this study aims to explore the potential association between adherence to the 24-h movement behavior (24-h MB) guidelines and substance use among adolescents. MethodsData from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance was analyzed. Participants reported their weekly PA, ST, SD, and substance use (alcohol and smoking) over the past 30 days. The mean age in the total participants was 15.56, and 48.03 % of the participants were females. Logistic regression was used in this study to explore the potential association between 24-h MB and substance use. Odds ratios (ORs) were reported alongside a 95 % confidence interval to enhance understanding of the observed association. ResultsOnly 2.22 % participants adhered to all three 24-h MB guidelines, while 47.99 % did not follow any guidelines. Notably, there was no significant difference in the odds of cigarette smoking between participants who followed none of the guidelines and those who followed some or all of them. Nevertheless, adherence to one or more guidelines was found to be associated with higher odds of abstaining from alcohol consumption compared to non-adherence (one guidelines: OR = 1.17 [1.08, 1.28], two guidelines: OR = 1.28 [1.13, 1.44]). ConclusionsAdhering to 24-h MB guidelines may reduce adolescents’ alcohol consumption, but the adherence was not significantly associated with smoking. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings. These results can inform adolescent health policies and interventions aimed at reducing substance use from the perspective of healthy time-use behaviors, which can be used for researchers and educator.

Screen time, problematic screen use, and eating disorder symptoms among early adolescents: findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study

PurposeEmerging research evidence suggests positive relationships between higher screen time and eating disorders. However, few studies have examined the prospective associations between screen use and eating disorder symptoms in early adolescents and how problematic screen use may contribute to symptom development.MethodsWe analyzed prospective cohort data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (N = 10,246, 2016–2020, ages 9–14). Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the longitudinal associations between baseline self-reported screen time and eating disorder symptoms in year two. Logistic regression analyses were also used to estimate cross-sectional associations between problematic screen use in year two (either problematic social media or mobile phone use) and eating disorder symptoms in year two. Eating disorder symptoms based on the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (KSADS-5) included fear of weight gain, self-worth tied to weight, engaging in compensatory behaviors, binge eating, and distress with binge eating.ResultsEach additional hour of total screen time and social media use was associated with higher odds of fear of weight gain, self-worth tied to weight, compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, binge eating, and distress with binge eating two years later (odds ratio [OR] 1.05–1.55). Both problematic social media and mobile phone use were associated with higher odds of all eating disorder symptoms (OR 1.26–1.82).ConclusionsFindings suggest greater total screen time, social media use, and problematic screen use are associated with more eating disorder symptoms in early adolescence. Clinicians should consider assessing for problem screen use and, when high, screen for disordered eating.Level of evidenceLevel III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies.

Associations among screen time, sleep, mental health and cognitive functioning in school-aged children during the COVID-19 pandemic, November 2020 through to August 2022

ObjectiveTo examine children’s screen time use and sleep patterns over 2 years of the pandemic and the downstream associations with children’s executive functions and behavioural problems, as well as the moderating effects of parental factors. MethodThis longitudinal cohort study examined school-aged children’s lifestyle and behavioural changes over 2 years of the pandemic across 6 timepoints (November 2020 to August 2022). Latent growth modeling (LGM) was used to identify changes in screen time and sleep duration and multivariate LGM was used to determine how parental stress, positive parenting, changes in children’s screen time and sleep over time were associated with children’s executive functions and mental health outcomes at the final time point. ResultsA total of 198 parents (children’s mean age = 9.14 years) were recruited and followed up. Non-school screen time was elevated at the initial timepoint (3.6 ± 2.3 h). Positive parenting at the initial timepoint was associated with lower screen time use in children (β = −.19, p < .001; β = −.19, p < .001, in internalizing and externalizing models). Children whose screen time use was constant during the pandemic had shorter sleep durations (β = −.45, p < .05 in internalizing model). Executive function was predicted by sleep duration at the first timepoint (β = −.55, p < .001; β = .73, p < .001, in internalizing and externalizing models) and changes in screen time during the pandemic was associated with both internalizing and externalizing symptoms (β = .58, p < .05; β = .54, p < .05, in internalizing and externalizing models). ConclusionChildren’s screen time decreased slightly but remained significantly higher than Canadian and International guidelines during 2 years of the pandemic. Positive parenting styles can have a significant impact on children's screen time use. Reducing excessive screen time can help improve sleep patterns and, consequently, cognitive, and emotional well-being in children.

Assessing the implementation of healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices in Early Childhood Education and Care in New South Wales, Australia: A cross-sectional study.

Australian children are not meeting the recommended physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE) guidelines. Health behaviour practices implemented in community settings such as early education services can improve child's health outcomes and are therefore key to help meet guidelines. This study aimed to measure the implementation of HE and PA policies and practices in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and to examine their association with service characteristics. A random sample of 1122 centre-based ECEC services were invited to a cross-sectional survey measuring HE and PA policy and practice implementation. Regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between the service characteristics and implementation of policies/practices. In total, 565 ECEC services completed the survey. Results show that while some practices are implemented, the implementation of practices promoting HE and PA education is low. Practices related to educator training for HE (18%) and PA (13%) were poorly implemented. The implementation of practices such as 'providing educator training around child PA', 'engaging families in activities to increase child PA' and 'encouraging supportive feeding practices' were significantly higher in services located in major cities than regional/remote services. 'Having a PA policy' and the practice of 'limiting the use of screen time' was significantly higher in long day care services than in preschools. The implementation of 'providing educator-led PA', 'providing free play opportunities' and 'having a PA policy' was significantly lower in private not-for-profit community managed services than in private for-profit services. Implementation of various HE and PA policies and practices in regional/remote services, private not-for-profit services and preschools across NSW could be improved. SO WHAT?: Future research should be prioritised towards identifying factors influencing the implementation of these policies and practices to best tailor implementation support efforts for those who need it the most.

The association between depressive symptoms and overweight or obesity in prepubertal children: Findings from the QUALITY cohort

BackgroundYouth obesity and depression are public health concerns. Although meta-analyses suggest a positive association between those conditions in adults and adolescents, evidence remains unclear in prepubertal children. We examined the bidirectional associations between levels of depressive symptoms and weight status in 8–10-year-old children with a parental history of obesity, over two years, and whether they differ by sex. Methods: Data were drawn from the QUebec Adipose and Lifestyle InvesTigation in Youth Cohort Study's baseline and first follow-up evaluations (n = 558). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 12-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale and weight status using body mass index z-scores based on World Health Organization standards. Linear and logistic regression models were used to test the directionality and magnitude of the associations, adjusting for age, sex, physical activity, screen time, parental education, alcohol and cigarette use, and baseline outcome measure. Results: Children with higher levels of depressive symptoms at baseline were not more likely to have overweight/obesity at follow-up (odds ratio [95 % Coefficient Interval] = 0.95[0.88;1.02]). Baseline overweight/obesity was not associated with subsequent higher levels of depressive symptoms (beta coefficient [95 % Coefficient Interval] = 0.20 [−0.47;0.87]). No sex differences emerged. Limitations: Selection bias may have occurred due to loss at follow-up (10 % attrition) and exclusion of 6 participants taking mood disorder medication. Conclusions: Unlike in adults and adolescents, no association between weight status and depressive symptoms was observed in childhood over two years. Underlying mechanisms linking both conditions later in life may not apply as early as prepubertal childhood.

Prevalence of Myopia Among Schoolchildren and the Impact of Increased Screen Time: A Systematic Review.

Myopia is the most frequent kind of refractive error and affects hundreds of millions of people. Growing evidence suggests that extended exposure to digital screens may exacerbate nearsightedness in children and young people. The purpose of this review is to compile data on the link between too much time in front of a screen and nearsightedness in young people so far. The principles of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guided the methods used and the format of the resulting report. Articles published between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2023, were found by searching Medline, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus. Studies reporting an association between myopia and time spent in front of screens in children and young adults were considered eligible. The initial search yielded a total of 1,251 studies. After eliminating duplicates and reviewing the titles and abstracts, 64 full-text articles were evaluated for eligibility. Ultimately, 15 of these studies were included in the final analysis. The 15 studies involved a total of 59,775 participants and were conducted in various countries, including China, Singapore, and the United States. Overall, the evidence did not support a significant association between screen time and myopia in school children and young adults. There is conflicting evidence on the link between screen time and myopia in children and adolescents. More research is needed to determine whether or not digital screen use is a risk factor for myopia. The complex association between screen time and myopia is not fully understood at this time because of the variability of the included studies. These results have significant public health implications since they may be used to guide recommendations for screen time use in children and the young population.

Screen Time Usage and Mental well-being among adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Modern kids are exposed to a wide variety of gadgets and are surrounded by technological advances, including television, cell phones, laptops, and other devices. Young people now spend more time than ever before using electronic gadgets in their daily lives and participating in screen based activities. Aim: This study aims to examine screen time usage, mental well-being and its effect among adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 100 adolescents. Responses were collected by self-structured screen time usage, Warwick-Edinburg Mental well-being scale and self-structured screen time effects scale. Findings: The collected data were analysed by using SPSS version 20.0 and the findings revealed that 42% and 45% of adolescents were using smartphone for 1-3 hours on weekends and weekdays respectively. Forty six percent of adolescents were had low mental well-being. The excessive screen time use reported often feeling moods, headache, frustrated, poor concentration and problem in their eyes. The screen time usage were significantly associated with effects of screen usage (r= 0.27, p=0.04). Conclusion: The study concluded that the adolescents had higher screen time usage on weekends. Increased screen time use predominantly was associated with higher negative effects.

A Family-Based Approach to Promoting Pediatric Mental Health Recovery in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The purpose of this scoping review is to identify strategies from existing literature, for school-based professionals to share with parents, that may be used on a family-level to help the recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric mental health. This scoping review consists of a comprehensive PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar database search. Studies published between 2020 and 2023 that were written in English, originated in the United States, and evaluated pediatric mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic were considered for inclusion in the scoping review. One researcher independently conducted the PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar literature search. Subsequently, results were reviewed independently by two additional researchers. Title and abstract review were conducted for 2563 articles. After excluding studies not written in English, studies with international origin, and studies which were not relevant to this scoping review, 101 studies remained for full-text review. After full-text review, 32 studies (31.68%) were deemed relevant and concordant with the inclusion criteria and were included in this scoping review. We identified five prominent themes: 1) maintaining daily life and routines, 2) the importance of physical activity and the pandemic's effect on student athletes' mental health, 3) the use of screen time, 4) the effect of parent and caregiver stress on their children's mental health, and 5) the effect of pandemic-related health disparities and racism on pediatric mental health. This scoping review focused on interventions and practices which can be implemented at the family level to help children and adolescents recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their mental health.

Physical Activity Participation among Children and Youth with Mental Health Symptoms: Clinician Perspectives.

Physical activity supports mental health and well-being in children and youth. However, there are significant barriers to physical activity participation among individuals impacted by mental health disorders. This study investigates these barriers through the perspective of mental health clinicians who support children and youth. Fourteen mental health clinicians, including registered professional psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers, were interviewed in a semi-structured format. Qualitative content analysis was performed to identify key themes, including both barriers and facilitators to physical activity. Content analysis revealed that clinicians perceive both internal and external barriers and facilitators to their clients' participation in physical activity. Barriers included intrapersonal factors, such as the presence of depression, anxiety, or eating disorder symptoms; lack of motivation; and negative self-talk, as well as factors related to the influence of caregivers, financial limitations, screen time use, environmental and cultural factors, and lack of time. Facilitators included enjoyment of physical activity, knowledge about the benefits of physical activity, and caregiver participation. Mental health clinicians demonstrated clear knowledge about the barriers to and facilitators of their clients' participation in physical activity. These findings provide valuable insights that can be used to support children and youth experiencing mental health difficulty to access the beneficial effects of physical activity.

Digital dilemmas and existing recommendations for healthy screen time use for children and adolescents

As technology continues to play an integral role in our daily lives, concerns regarding the appropriate and healthy use of screen time have prompted health organizations and authorities worldwide to establish guidelines and recommendations. This paper comprehensively summarizes existing recommendations and guidelines for screen time use from various countries, highlighting key similarities, differences, and emerging trends. However, there is a dire need to expand the existing repertoire of guidelines and recommendations to different age groups and strategies depending on user engagement for healthy screen time use.

Adolescent Lifestyle Behaviour Modification and Mental Health: Longitudinal Changes in Diet, Physical Activity, Sleep, Screen Time, Smoking, and Alcohol Use and Associations with Psychological Distress

AbstractThis study examines longitudinal behaviour change in six key lifestyle behaviours—sleep, physical activity (PA), sedentary recreational screen time, diet, alcohol use, and tobacco use—and associations with mental health in a large study of Australian adolescents. Change between baseline (Mage = 12.7, N = 6,639) and 3-year follow up (Mage = 15.7, N = 4445) was investigated. Generalised linear mixed effects regressions modelled associations between behaviour change and later psychological distress score adjusting for baseline behaviours, baseline psychological distress, social determinants, and school clustering. Changes over time in each of the behaviours were significantly associated with later psychological distress, whereby health-promoting behaviours were associated with reduced psychological distress and vice versa. When all behaviour changes were modelled together, significant effects remained for sleep, PA, vegetable consumption, junk food and SSB consumption, alcohol, and tobacco use. Results highlight the potential benefits of behaviour modification to reduce the progression of psychological distress in adolescence.

A Cross-sectional Study of Mental Health Effects of Excessive Screen Time and Social Media Use among Indian Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract Introduction: The impact of excessive screen time and social media use on mental health, particularly among adolescents and young adults, has raised concerns. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the mental health effects of excessive screen time and social media use among adolescents (13–19 years) and young adults (20–25 years) in India. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey study recruited 1392 participants (672 adolescents and 720 young adults) from India. Validated scales assessed mental health outcomes, screen time, social media use, mediating factors, and coping strategies. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, regression models, and thematic analysis were employed. Results: The prevalence of depression symptom was 37.9%, anxiety symptom was 33.3%, high stress 43.7%, and low self-esteem 25.3%, respectively. Significant positive correlations were found between screen time, social media use, and symptoms of depression (r = 0.32, r = 0.25), anxiety (r = 0.28, r = 0.22), and stress (r = 0.36, r = 0.29), while negative correlations existed with self-esteem (r = −0.25, r = −0.18). Poor sleep quality and cyberbullying exacerbated mental health issues, while physical activity and social support had protective effects. Common coping strategies included physical activity, hobbies, social support, digital detox, and mindfulness. Conclusions: The study provides compelling evidence linking excessive screen time and social media use with adverse mental health outcomes such as depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, stress, and low self-esteem among Indian adolescents and young adults. Key mediating factors were poor sleep quality exacerbating mental health issues, while physical activity, social support, and reduced cyberbullying were protective. While recognizing technology’s benefits, the study highlights promoting balanced digital habits, addressing underlying factors, and equipping youth with coping skills to foster a healthier relationship with technology and safeguard mental well-being.