Every one of us has felt some guilt when our kids are getting "too much" screen time ... but that guilt might be justified.
From Newsweek:
The research conducted by the American Psychological Association and published in the journal Psychological Bulletin reviewed and analyzed 117 separate studies involving more than 292,000 children under the age of 10 from around the world.
Researchers found strong evidence linking higher screen use to a range of socio-emotional problems, including anxiety, depression, aggression and low self-esteem.
There's a vicious cycle at play here: Increased screen time "can lead to emotional and behavioral problems," and unfortunately "kids with those problems often turn to screens to cope."
The meta-research "followed children over a period of at least six months" and "looked at all types of screen-based activities — from TV watching and video games to social media and online schoolwork." Data included studies from Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States.
The troubling trends were very evident:
Across the board, a clear trend emerged: the more time kids spent using screens, the more likely they were to develop emotional or behavioral issues. At the same time, children already struggling emotionally were more likely to turn to screens, especially for gaming, as a way to cope.
The pattern varied depending on age and gender. Children aged 6 - 10 appeared more vulnerable to the harmful effects of screen time than those aged 0 - 5. Girls were generally more at risk of developing emotional problems with greater screen use, while boys were more likely to increase their screen time when already facing such challenges.
Among the types of screen time, "gaming was more strongly linked with negative outcomes than educational or recreational screen use."
The study "highlights the need for a nuanced approach to managing children's screen time," according to one researcher.
The researchers urged parents, teachers, and policymakers to take a thoughtful approach to screen time — one that considers not only how long children are on screens, but also what content they're engaging with and the social context in which they use it.
Wise advice!
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