Screen time in kids prompts mental health concerns

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Screen time in kids prompts mental health concerns

A research letter published in JAMA Pediatrics states that during the COVID-19 pandemic, average daily screen time among US adolescents has risen to seven hours, leading to concerns about its effects on mental health and perceived stress.

Researchers summarized data from a survey of 5,412 adolescents aged 12 to 13 years old in May 2020.

Study participants self-reported daily hours spent on gaming, texting, social media, video chatting, browsing the internet and watching or streaming movies, videos or TV shows. The study excluded hours spent on school-related work.

The participants reported a mean total daily screen use of 7.7 hours — most of it spent gaming or watching or streaming movies, videos or TV shows — which was higher than a prepandemic estimate of 3.8 hours per day from the same cohort.

The researchers also assessed participants on mental health and resiliency factors and found that poorer mental health and greater perceived stress were associated with higher total screen use, whereas more social support and coping behaviors were associated with lower total screen use.

As I’ve mentioned many times before, the less screen time that humans of all ages have, but particularly children, the better their physical, emotional, and relational health.

Read the full story here.

© Copyright WLL, INC. 2021. This blog provides healthcare tips and advice that you can trust about a wide variety of general health information only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your regular physician. If you are concerned about your health, take what you learn from this blog and meet with your personal doctor to discuss your concerns.

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