Researchers from the University of Colorado-Boulder have found that increased screentime might not be as bad for children as people initially thought. They found that increased screentime did not significantly cause lower grades, poor sleep, and an increased risk of attention disorders. Moreover, there was no impact on anxiety and depression.
They also concluded that children with more screen time generally had more close friends.
According to Katie Paulich, a lead study author and Ph.D. student in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, parents should be careful about their children’s time on their screens. However, these devices do not necessarily present a threat.
How researchers conducted the study
The study is among the largest on the impact of screen time for adolescents. Researchers used data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study, which is still ongoing. They evaluated 11,800 children aged 8 and 9. The children filled questionnaires on their screen time habits. Researchers then gave them tests to assess their mental health and asked their parents to provide reports on their grades and behavioral issues.
Researchers also noted differences between screen time habits when it came to their sexes. Boys spend about 45 minutes more on their screens each day. While most girls spent their time browsing through social media, boys played video games.
Other factors had more impact on children
The study also found that children who spent more time on their screens displayed more signs of ADHD and slept poorly. These findings support those found in previous studies. However, the team also noted that the impact of screen time on the children’s lives was small.
Other life-shaping factors have more influence on children. For example, socioeconomic status was 2.5 times more likely to affect grades and sleep.
John Hewitt, the director of the Institute for Behavioural Genetics and the lead author for the study, states that many studies have shown that screen time can harm children. However, other studies have shown that these studies have overestimated the impact. This new study is one of them.
Researchers concluded that parents of children who already had behavioral issues were more likely to give them more screen time to calm them down. The type of screen time is also important with videogames promoting more social behavior than watching T.V.
