Screentime blues
Published
Children who spend four or more hours a day on screens may be more susceptible to mental health problems, claims a new study of over 50,000 children aged 6+ in the US. These may include ADHD, anxiety, behavioural issues and even depression.
The study used as its baseline a screen time period of more than four hours each day. It found that this raised the likelihood of depression by 61 per cent, anxiety by 45 per cent, behavioural problems by 24 per cent and ADHD by 21 per cent.
Data from the study also indicated that this issue is likely to escalate. It’s estimated that 1 in 3 children spend too much time in front of screens, suggesting the behaviour is normalised. ‘What is most concerning about these results is the high probability of depression,’ says Dr Hannah Nearney, clinical psychiatrist and UK medical director at Flow Neuroscience.
The study found that physical activity best protects children from the negative effects of screen time, while irregular bedtimes and short sleep duration can exacerbate the problem. Yet only 1 in 5 children in the survey achieved the standard guideline for regular physical activity (more than 6o minutes a day). And just 1 in 4 maintained a consistent weekly bedtime routine.
‘Not enough attention is given to children with mental health problems such as depression. What we can do is not only avoid screen time but also regulate sleep schedules and include physical activity in children’s daily lives,’ says Dr Nearney
Visit www.flowneuroscience.com
