{"id":8567,"date":"2021-10-24T15:18:23","date_gmt":"2021-10-24T15:18:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1370972"},"modified":"2021-10-24T15:18:23","modified_gmt":"2021-10-24T15:18:23","slug":"screen-time-doesnt-harm-kids-but-you-should-still-keep-an-eye-on-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=8567","title":{"rendered":"Screen time doesn\u2019t harm kids, but you should still keep an eye on it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A newly published study in the journal PLoS ONE<\/a> suggests spending time on screens is unlikely to be directly harmful to young children. The US study attracted global attention, as screen time has been commonly blamed for disrupting the healthy habits of our youth.<\/p>\n

Headlines announced \u201cScreens are not as dangerous as you think\u201d<\/a>, \u201cScreens don\u2019t really hurt kids\u201d<\/a>, \u201cKids are not harmed by long screen times\u201d<\/a>, \u201cPotential benefits of digital screen time\u201d<\/a> and \u201cKids being glued to screens doesn\u2019t cause anxiety\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, we still need to be wary of health consequences, despite the absence of strong links between screen time and children\u2019s health. The researchers suggested screen time was not a direct cause of depression or anxiety and was linked to improved peer relations, but their findings came with caveats<\/a>. The study involved almost 12,000 nine-to-ten-year-olds from 24 diverse sites across the United States.<\/p>\n

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A theme emerging from careful research on screen time & kids. Negative effects are there, but too small to worry about: “the small effect sizes observed suggest that increased screen time is unlikely to be directly harmful to 9-and-10-year-old children.” https:\/\/t.co\/APoWIdzNWa<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ethan Mollick (@emollick) September 9, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Why worry about screen time?<\/h2>\n

Young people are using screens more than ever. The average number of screen-based digital devices<\/a> reported to be owned and used by children in Australia has reached 3.3 devices per child.<\/p>\n

These devices include laptops, smart phones, televisions, tablets, gaming devices and family computers<\/a>. Similar to many Western nations, children are estimated to be using a mobile device or watching television for 3-4 hours a day<\/a> and exceeding health guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Surveys<\/a> have found almost all high school students and two-thirds of primary school students own a screen-based device. Children are spending at least a third of their day<\/a> staring at screens.<\/p>\n

In Australia, teachers<\/a> and parents<\/a> have expressed concerns that the fast uptake of digital devices (including social media use) is having negative impacts on children\u2019s physical activity and their ability to be empathetic and focus on learning tasks.<\/p>\n

Most concerns<\/a> relate to screen time being associated with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, social interactions and sleep quality.<\/p>\n

With children using screens so much at an early age, establishing a causal link between screen time and health outcomes has become more important than ever. Increased screen use<\/a> as a result of the pandemic<\/a> has added urgency to this research.<\/p>\n

What did this latest study investigate?<\/h2>\n

The US study investigated the relationship between screen time and children\u2019s academic performance, sleep habits, peer relationships and mental health.<\/p>\n

Parents completed a screen time questionnaire, a child behavior checklist and anxiety statement scales (including sections on children internalizing or externalizing problems and attention). They reported on their child\u2019s grades at school, their sleep quantity and quality, family income and race.<\/p>\n

The children independently completed a 14-item screen time questionnaire about the different types of recreational media use on screens. They were also asked how many close friends they have.<\/p>\n

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I hope the myth ‘Screens=bad’ will die. What you do behind those screens matters.<\/p>\n

Study of 12K kids find no links with depression\/anxiety. More screen time = closer friends.<\/p>\n

@OParenting<\/a>@DebiecJacek<\/a>@BarbaraRoblesMD<\/a>@UjjRam<\/a>@Pfagell<\/a>@finkshrink<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/pSBeiMVUsb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Miranda van Tilburg (@DrvanTilburg) September 16, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The researchers did find small significant associations<\/a> between children\u2019s screen time and decreases in quality of sleep, attention, mental health and academic performance. These effects were not confirmed as directly caused by screen time.<\/p>\n

Possible explanations for the weak links between screen time and negative health impacts include:<\/p>\n

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  1. relying on parent reporting<\/li>\n
  2. the design of the screen time survey<\/li>\n
  3. social quality measurement.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Parent reporting has limitations<\/h2>\n

    Most of the assessment relied on parents being able to report accurately on their children\u2019s health behaviors. Surveys and questionnaires are often more reliably completed by the target participants<\/a>, unless they are unable to do so (for example, due to illness).<\/p>\n

    It can be difficult for adults to properly identify<\/a> children\u2019s behaviors, and parents reporting on a child can lead to many inaccuracies<\/a> or less sensitive data associations. For instance, it would be very difficult to report on a child\u2019s sleep disruptions without using a digital measuring device.<\/p>\n

    Parents are also relying on how much they see their child, the depth and openness of their conversations, various family structures, shared interests and conversations with teachers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Survey design matters too<\/h2>\n

    It\u2019s important that surveys<\/a> are easily understood and suitable for the participants. At the ages of nine and ten, kids could still be grappling with the meaning of the different screen time aspects of the survey. They also might not yet fully understand their own behaviors or habits.<\/p>\n

    In the screen-time questionnaire, the maximum time category was four hours a day and above. This will not identify excessive use. An international study<\/a> of almost 600,000 children found beyond four hours (for boys) and two hours (for girls) was harmful.<\/p>\n

    Future research also needs to consider important positive screen strategies such as eye protection<\/a>, posture<\/a>, role modelling<\/a> and active screen games<\/a> with physical health benefits.<\/p>\n

    Other major considerations include the different ways children engage with devices. For example, screen time can involve interactional, recreational or passive entertainment. Different devices also require different levels of screen intensity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    The different screen time intensities have varying<\/a> levels of influence on children\u2019s mental health, life satisfaction<\/a> and interactions. Researchers strongly emphasize measuring the quality<\/a> of screen time, rather than the quantity.<\/p>\n

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