Is Increased Screen Time Associated With the Development of Anxiety or Depression in Young People?

IntroductionEmerging evidence suggests that sedentary behaviour, specifically time spent taking part in screen-based activities, such as watching television, may be associated with mental health outcomes in young people [1]. However, recent reviews have found limited and conflicting evidence for both anxiety and depression [2].ObjectivesThe purpose of the study was to explore associations between screen time at age 16 years and anxiety and depression at 18.MethodsSubjects (n = 1958) were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a UK-based prospective cohort study. We assessed associations between screen time (measured via questionnaire at 16 years) and anxiety and depression (measured in a clinic at 18 years using the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule) using ordinal logistic regression, before and after adjustment for covariates (including sex, maternal education, family social class, parental conflict, bullying and maternal depression).ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders, we found no evidence for an association between screen time and anxiety (OR = 1.02; 95% CI 0.95–1.09). There was weak evidence that greater screen time was associated with a small increased risk of depression (OR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.98–1.13).ConclusionsOur results suggest that young people who spend more time on screen-based activities may have a small increased risk of developing depression but not anxiety. Reducing youth screen time may lower the prevalence of depression. The study was limited by screen time being self-reported, a small sample size due to attrition and non-response, and the possibility of residual confounding. Reverse causation cannot be ruled out.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Area deprivation, screen time and consumption of food and drink high in fat salt and sugar (HFSS) in young people: results from a cross-sectional study in the UK

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027333 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. e027333 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Fiona Thomas ◽

Christopher Thomas ◽

Lucie Hooper ◽

Gillian Rosenberg ◽

Jyotsna Vohra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Screen Time ◽

Health Knowledge ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Area Deprivation ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Time Exposure ◽

Sugary Drinks ◽

The Uk

ObjectivesTo investigate associations between deprivation in young people and consumption of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), screen time exposure and health knowledge.DesignAn online cross-sectional survey with people aged 11–19 years in the UK, where participants reported consumption behaviours across 13 HFSS and two non-HFSS groups; screen time for commercial television and streaming services; and knowledge of health conditions and their links to obesity.SettingUKParticipantsA total of 3348 young people aged 11–19 years across the UK.Main outcome measuresThe study assessed the consumption behaviours, commercial screen time exposure and the health knowledge of 3348 people aged 11–19 years. Multivariate binary regression analysis, controlling for age and gender, was performed.ResultsDeprivation level was associated with increases in consumption of six of the HFSS products including energy drinks (OR: 2.943, p<0.001) and sugary drinks (OR: 1.938, p<0.001) and a reduction in consumption in the two non-HFSS products included in the study, fruit (OR: 0.668, p=0.004) and vegetables (OR: 0.306, p<0.001). Deprivation was associated with high weekly screen time of both television (OR: 2.477, p<0.001) and streaming (OR: 1.679, p=0.001). Health knowledge was also associated with deprivation. There was lower awareness of the association of obesity and cancer (OR: 0.697, p=0.003), type 2 diabetes (OR: 0.64, p=0.004) and heart disease (OR: 0.519, p<0.001) in the most deprived.ConclusionsYoung people from the more deprived areas of the UK were more likely to consume a range of HFSS products, report increased exposure to HFSS advertising and have a poorer awareness of health conditions associated with overweight and obesity. The findings suggest that population-level measures addressing childhood obesity should account for consumption patterns among different groups of children and young people and the factors that may influence these.

Download Full-text

Sedated by the Screen

Managing Screen Time in an Online Society - Advances in Human and Social Aspects of Technology ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-8163-5.ch001 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-30

Author(s):

Lídia Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Screen Time ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Tablet Computer ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Daily Lives ◽

Children And Young People ◽

Use Of Time ◽

The Social ◽

Social Use

The social use of time has been progressively affected by the presence of screen devices in people's daily lives. These devices are of various types: television, tablet, computer, smartphones, etc. However, all of these have a power of seduction that makes people want to use them. In reality, a significant part of tasks are mediated by screens, whether they are playful tasks, socializing, work or training. In this chapter, the authors reflect on some quasi-paradoxical situations triggered by screen time, which shows that one is sedated by the screen. Then, they present the results of a systematic review of the literature focused on the concept of “screen time,” which shows that the excessive use of the screen is causing various health problems, especially in children and young people. And, the results of two empirical studies are presented, one with young people between 12 and 18 years old, and the other with university students. The results of both studies demonstrate the need to develop competences in the management of the social use of time, that is, to develop time literacy.

Download Full-text

The relationship between screen time and mental health in young people: A systematic review of longitudinal studies

Clinical Psychology Review ◽

10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102021 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 102021

Author(s):

Samantha Tang ◽

Aliza Werner-Seidler ◽

Michelle Torok ◽

Andrew J. Mackinnon ◽

Helen Christensen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Young People ◽

Longitudinal Studies ◽

Screen Time ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

The relationship between smartphone usage duration (using smartphone’s ability to monitor screen time) with hand-grip and pinch-grip strength among young people. An observational study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-89184/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ahmad Osailan

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Grip Strength ◽

Screen Time ◽

Monitor Screen ◽

Young Males ◽

Pinch Grip ◽

Hand Grip ◽

Grip Strength Measurement ◽

Musculoskeletal Pathology ◽

The Relationship

Abstract BackgroundThe use of smartphones has become widely popular especially among young people for multiple purposes other than communication including gaming and internet browsing. The weakness of the hand and wrist is one of the main complications associated with the increase of use of smartphones. This weakness occurs due to the repetitive flexion and extension of the wrist, thumb and fingers which eventually could lead to a major musculoskeletal pathology. Little is known about the relationship between smartphone usage duration (using the phones ability to monitor screen time) and hand-grip, pinch-grip strength. Therefore, the study was aimed to investigate the association between smartphone usage duration and hand-grip, pinch-grip strength among young people. Methods100 young males volunteered to participate in the study. Participants were briefly examined for height and weight using a portable stadiometer and a digital scale. Hand-grip, pinch-grip strength measurement was performed using a hand-held dynamometer. Smartphones usage duration was obtained from the daily average screen time reported in the last seven days. ResultsMean daily usage of smartphone among the participants was 7.8 ± 2.2. There was a significant inverse relationship between smartphone usage duration and hand-grip strength (r=-.22, p=.03) and pinch-grip strength (r=-.28, p=.004). ConclusionProlonged use of smartphones is related to weaker hand-grip and pinch-grip. This may lead to future musculoskeletal pathologies such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Young people should be aware of the dangers of smartphones overuse.

Download Full-text

Technological Addiction or Technological Competence? Investigation of Young People's Approaches to Technology Use in the Context of Increasing Screen Time Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic

CTC 2021 PROCEEDINGS BOOK ◽

10.17932/ctcspc.21/ctc21.029 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Serap Duygulu ◽

Zeliha Hepkon

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Technology Use ◽

Screen Time ◽

Social Life ◽

World Health ◽

Children And Young People ◽

Technological Competence ◽

The World ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Screen Use

Due to Covid-19 disease, which has an increasing negative impact on the world day by day and has been classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, continuing education remotely at various levels has brought with it very important discussions. Perhaps, one of the most crucial of these is the increased screen usage times. The intensive use of digital media in all areas of our social life has brought to mind the frequent handling of the time spent by children and young people in front of the screen in the pre-pandemic period by academia and nonacademies. However, with the pandemic, the education process is carried out entirely in distance; in addition to that, with the elimination of the need for socialization, entertainment and information due to screens, which became the sole medium for socialization, entertainment and information, has further increased the importance of studies that reveal the effect of screen usage time on children and young people. From this perspective, our study is based on Sonia Livingstone's approach to addressing screen use not only through "risks" but also through "opportunities". When it comes to screen use and "screen time", parents and teachers evaluate screen time within the framework of technological addiction; they did not focus on the nature of screen use and how to convert it into technological competence. The main purpose of this study is to reveal the approaches of parents and teachers regarding screen times of high school students. In this context, the literature within the framework of "screen time", "technological addiction" and "technological competence" has been scanned for the research part of the study, in-depth interviews were conducted with the parents and teachers of students of different types of high schools throughout Istanbul. Due to the pandemic conditions during our time, the interviews were conducted digitally through a questionnaire; different questionnaire have been prepared for teachers and families. The findings obtained as a result of in-depth interviews were evaluated with six main headings. Headings are as foolows: screen times of young people, risks that young people may face during media use, parents' perception of technological proficiency, teachers' perception of technological proficiency, parents' approaches to screen time of young people and teachers' approaches to screen time. It is hoped that the study will contribute to the literature on the axis of digital technologies and education.

Download Full-text

Research Agenda for Anxiety Disorders

Treating and Preventing Adolescent Mental Health Disorders ◽

10.1093/med-psych/9780199928163.003.0012 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 281-286

Author(s):

Edna B. Foa ◽

Martin Franklin ◽

Richard J. McNally ◽

Carmen McLean ◽

Daniel Pine

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Life Events ◽

Adolescent Development ◽

Research Agenda ◽

Basic Knowledge ◽

Selective Treatment ◽

Treatment And Prevention ◽

Development Of Anxiety ◽

Pathological Anxiety

The chapter starts by outlining what is already known about the ecology of adolescent development and culture and how it relates to the development of anxiety disorders in individuals. Identifying which young people are most at risk to develop anxiety disorders after experiencing negative life events, the chapter argues, is an important next step toward developing selective treatment and prevention intervention programs. The chapter then goes on to explain what is not currently known about what factors are linked specifically to anxiety disorders, as opposed to what might cause a general likelihood of development of a disorder. It is critical, therefore, that more research be conducted on obtaining basic knowledge about specific risk and protective factors of pathological anxiety in adolescents. This research must carefully consider the context of adolescent development and culture in trying to discern the particular factors and the manner in which these factors interact.

Download Full-text

Impact of health behaviours and deprivation on well-being in a national sample of English young people

BMJ Paediatrics Open ◽

10.1136/bmjpo-2018-000335 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. e000335 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Aswathikutty Gireesh ◽

Shikta Das ◽

Russell M Viner

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Young People ◽

Ethnic Groups ◽

Screen Time ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Well Being ◽

Area Deprivation ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

Modifiable Factors ◽

Mental Well Being

ObjectiveTo determine the modifiable factors influencing well-being in boys and girls by accounting for deprivation, ethnicity and clustering within local authorities.MethodsWe used data from a very large nationally representative survey, the What About Youth study involving 120 115 adolescents aged 15 years. Our outcome measure of mental well-being was the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). Potential explanatory factors included substance abuse, screen time, eating habits, reading, bullying, sleeping pattern, physical activity and area-level deprivation. We ran unadjusted and adjusted multilevel models for each explanatory factor, after adjusting for ethnicity, deprivation and including a random effect for the local authority.ResultsBoys had a higher overall mean WEMWBS score than girls (p<0.0001). In the adjusted model, each of multiple risk behaviours, eating habits, sleep, bullying, physical activity, screen-time and reading were independently associated with mental well-being in both boy and girls (p<0.0001 for both). Sleep and eating behaviours had a stronger association in both sexes than bullying, physical activity and screen time. Young people from black ethnic groups had significantly higher well-being in both sexes. Deprivation was not associated with well-being among boys but was among girls.ConclusionThe largest contributors to adolescent well-being appear to be sleep, eating behaviours and bullying when considered in a multivariable framework. While adolescents from black ethnic groups had higher overall well-being scores, area deprivation did not affect male well-being but had a small effect on female well-being. Future longitudinal studies and health policies need to consider a range of behavioural factors to drive improvements in adolescent well-being.

Download Full-text

The relationship between smartphone usage duration (using smartphone’s ability to monitor screen time) with hand-grip and pinch-grip strength among young people: an observational study

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12891-021-04054-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ahmad Osailan

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Grip Strength ◽

Screen Time ◽

Hand Grip Strength ◽

Monitor Screen ◽

Young Males ◽

Pinch Grip ◽

Hand Grip ◽

Grip Strength Measurement ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background The use of smartphones has become widely popular, especially among young people, for multiple purposes other than communication, including gaming and internet browsing. The hand and wrist weakness is one of the main complications associated with the increased use of smartphones. This weakness occurs due to the repetitive flexion and extension of the wrist, thumb, and fingers, leading to a significant musculoskeletal pathology. Little is known about the relationship between smartphone usage duration (using the phones ability to monitor screen time) and hand-grip, pinch-grip strength. Therefore, the study was aimed to investigate the association between smartphone usage duration and hand-grip, pinch-grip strength among young people. Methods One hundred young males volunteered to participate in the study. Participants were briefly examined for height and weight using a portable stadiometer and a digital scale. Hand-grip, pinch-grip strength measurement was performed using a hand-held dynamometer. Smartphones usage duration was obtained from the daily average screen time reported in the last seven days. Results Mean daily usage of smartphone among the participants was 7.8 ± 2.2. There was a weak significant inverse relationship between smartphone usage duration and hand-grip strength (r=-.22, p = .03) and pinch-grip strength (r=-.28, p = .004). Linear regression revealed that 18.8 % of the variance in hand-grip strength and 20.4 % of the variance in pinch-grip strength was explained by age, and smartphone usage duration, with the addition of BMI only to hand-grip strength (p’s < 0.00). Conclusions Prolonged use of smartphones was related to weaker hand-grip and pinch-grip. Despite the weak relationship, the study showed that smartphone usage duration might contribute as a factor along with age to hand muscles’ strength.

Download Full-text