screen time

Introduction

The impact of screen time on various aspects of children's health and behavior has been a topic of significant research. This synthesis examines the relationship between screen time and outcomes such as sleep, mental health, adherence to guidelines, and physical health among children and adolescents.

Key Insights

Adverse Effects on Sleep:
- Screen time is consistently associated with poor sleep outcomes, including shorter sleep duration and delayed sleep timing .
Behavioral and Mental Health Issues:
- Increased screen time is linked to both externalizing (e.g., aggression, ADHD symptoms) and internalizing (e.g., depression, anxiety) behavior problems in children .
- Specific types of screen use, such as video games and computer use, are particularly associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety.
Adherence to Screen Time Guidelines:
- A significant proportion of children do not meet recommended screen time guidelines, with only 24.7% of children under 2 years and 35.6% of children aged 2 to 5 years adhering to these guidelines.
- Screen time exceeding public health guidelines is highly prevalent, especially among boys, overweight or obese children, and those with mothers of lower educational attainment.
Physical Health and Adiposity:
- Higher screen time is associated with increased BMI and adiposity, particularly with television viewing, which is linked to food advertising and distracted eating.
Conceptual and Methodological Issues:
- The current literature on screen time is criticized for poor conceptualization, reliance on self-reported measures, and lack of longitudinal evidence for causal effects .
Correlates of Screen Time:
- Factors such as child’s age, race/ethnicity, maternal distress, and cognitive stimulation in the home environment are associated with higher screen time among young children.

Conclusion

The research consistently shows that excessive screen time is associated with negative outcomes in sleep, mental health, and physical health among children and adolescents. Despite guidelines, many children exceed recommended screen time limits. The literature also highlights significant methodological issues that need to be addressed in future research to better understand the impact of screen time and develop effective interventions.

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Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Screen time and sleep among school-aged children and adolescents: a systematic literature review.

Screen time is negatively associated with sleep outcomes in 90% of studies, primarily shortened duration and delayed timing, in school-aged children and adolescents.

The Conceptual and Methodological Mayhem of “Screen Time”

Screen time research needs improved conceptualisation, standardised measures, and user-focused approaches to better understand its various affordances and impacts.

Global Prevalence of Meeting Screen Time Guidelines Among Children 5 Years and Younger: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Only a minority of children aged 5 years and younger are meeting screen time guidelines, highlighting the need for support and resources for families to implement evidence-based recommendations.

Prevalence and correlates of screen time in youth: an international perspective.

Screen time in excess of 2 hours/day is highly prevalent in children aged 4-17, particularly among boys, overweight or obese individuals, and those with lower educational attainment.

The Problem with Screen Time

Screen time quantity is irrelevant, as it fails to consider the complex context and meaning of media use in children, rather focusing on dosage models and regulatory admonitions.

Screen time use in children under 3 years old: a systematic review of correlates

High screen time in infants and toddlers is linked to factors such as age, race/ethnicity, BMI, maternal distress, TV viewing, and cognitive stimulation in the home environment.

Association of Screen Time With Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior Problems in Children 12 Years or Younger: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Increased screen time in children 12 years or younger is associated with small but significant increases in externalizing and internalizing behavior problems.

Screen Time in Under-five Children

Limiting screen-time in under-five children can improve their overall health, with interventions like increasing physical activity, reducing BMI, improving sleep, and dietary behaviors showing effectiveness.

Screen time is associated with depression and anxiety in Canadian youth.

Screen time is associated with increased severity of depression and anxiety in Canadian youth, with video game playing and computer use being particularly significant.

Adiposity and Different Types of Screen Time

Increased screen time, particularly television, is associated with BMI gains in adolescents, particularly among overweight girls.

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