Too Much Screen Time Could Lead to Social and Emotional Problems in Kids, Study Suggests
Children exhibiting behavioral issues are increasingly resorting to screen time as a coping mechanism, leading to a detrimental cycle where more screen time exacerbates the problems.
Kids spending excessive time in front of screens might face emotional and behavioral troubles, and these issues could push them deeper into the digital world, according to a new study.
This research, published in the Psychological Bulletin, looked at children aged 10 and under, tracking their screen time—including social media, gaming, TV, and online homework—and assessing problems like aggression, anxiety, and low self-confidence.
The results reveal that children with high screen usage were at a heightened risk of both externalizing issues, like acting out aggressively, and internalizing troubles, such as withdrawal or depression. Moreover, these children were found to indulge even more in screens, possibly as a way to cope.
Boys vs Girls
Interestingly, girls were more likely to develop emotional and behavioral troubles after increased screen time, whereas boys were more prone to employ screens as a means of coping with such issues.
Gaming was found to have a more significant impact on emotional and behavioral problems compared to other online activities, but exposure to violent content did not amplify the risk.
Although the study didn’t confirm that screen time actively causes emotional and behavioral problems, it certainly highlighted their correlation.
"The results stress the need for a balanced approach to managing children's screen time," said Roberta Vasconcellos, the study's lead author.
The Need for Guidelines
The study's findings accentuate the importance of screen time guidelines for children that go beyond limiting their screen time. Parents should consider the quality of content and the nature of their children's online social interactions as well.
The researchers also suggest discouraging kids from spending too much time on higher-risk activities like gaming.
A word about Guidelines
While disciplining screen usage, American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
- 0–18 Months: No screen time except for video chatting with known individuals.
- 18–24 Months: Limit screen time and only when it's interactive, educational, and age-appropriate.
- 2–5 Years: Limit recreational screen time to one hour per day on weekdays and three hours on weekends.
- 6 Years and Older: Limit screen time to two hours per day, ensuring enough sleep, physical activity, and social interaction.
So, strike a balance between screen use and other essential activities for your child's healthy development.
- The study in Psychological Bulletin suggests that excess screen time could not only lead to externalizing issues like aggression and internalizing troubles such as depression in children, but also induces them to engage further in digital activities as a coping mechanism.
- To promote overall health-and-wellness and mental-health among children, it's crucial to adhere to guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics, such as limited screen time based on age, and to consider the quality of content and the nature of their online social interactions.
