Research Digest 1.0

Introducing "Research Digest", where Social Media Resilience dissects research papers and articles, so you don't have to. Stay in the loop with the latest research findings on the impact of social media and digital devices on health, wellbeing & society.

Study Title: Screen Time and Its Health Consequences in Children and Adolescents, Published October 2023

Aim : Document the health effects of excessive screen time and viewing on children and adolescents.

Method: Comprehensive literature review; studies from 2017-2023 included. Included ages 0-20 years old. A narrative review was performed to synthesis the extracted data.

Results: 3357 results were found. 43 studies were critically reviewed.

Overview:

Children and adolescents are increasingly exposed to electronic devices from an early age, leading to screen time viewing. The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend limited screen time, for children under the age of 5 (2).

The study presents a comprehensive examination of the health effects of excessive screen time on children and adolescents, covering a wide range of factors from obesity to mental health to child-parent relationships.

The heterogeneity between the studies is noted, indicating that more research is required to establish accurate relationships between the amount of screen time on health outcomes. Factors such as the type of digital media used, the duration of exposure, and the age and gender of the individuals involved can all influence the outcomes observed. Some studies show correlations between excessive screen time and certain health issues, other studies do not find the same associations, highlight the nuances and complex interactions of the effects of screen time on health for young people and children.

Ongoing studies are required to stay updated and better understand the effects of screen time one young people and children. In addition, we need to address more research that identify better ways to help young people use screens in health ways.

Relationships Discussed:

• Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: Excessive screen time correlates with increased risk for obesity and related cardiometabolic factors, such as high blood pressure and insulin resistance.
• Mental Health: Excessive screen time is associated with internalised symptoms like depression and anxiety, as well as externalised symptoms like ADHD and aggression. Active smartphone use, measured by how often one unlocks their device, serves as a protective factor for mental health, particularly against externalising symptoms like aggression. Cyberbullying also contributes to suicidal behaviors.
• Dietary Habits and Eating Disorders: Excessive screen may effect dietary habits, including an increased risk high consumption of ultra-processed foods, and eating disorders.
• Development: Excessive screen time negatively impacts some aspects of development for younger children. The effects of excessive screen time are not rigid and may differ by type and timing of screen use, dose-dependent relationships, and purpose of viewing.
• Child-Parent Relationship: Parental screen time habits influence children's screen time behaviour, with excessive parental screen time increasing the risk for excessive screen time for children.
• Sleep and Physical Activity: Excessive screen time disrupts sleep patterns, leading to poorer sleep quality and shorter duration. It's also associated with lower physical activity levels and less outdoor play.
• Eyesight and Headaches: Excessive screen time contributes to eye strain, dry eyes, and headaches, possibly due to reduced blinking and screen glare.

Relationships and Moderating Factors:Type of media, timing of screen time, age, gender, and interactive vs. passive usage modulate the effects of excessive screen time on health. Parental screen time behaviour influences children's screen time habits.

Conclusion and Recommendations: Excessive screen time negatively impacts multiple aspects of children's health, but further research is needed to establish accurate relationships and understand confounding factors.

1. Priftis N, Panagiotakos D. Screen Time and Its Health Consequences in Children and Adolescents. Children. 2023; 10(10):1665. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10101665
2. World Health Organization. Guidelines on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep for Children under 5 Years of Age; WHO: Geneva, Switzerland, 2019. [Google Scholar]

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