Tweens who spend a lot of time on screens are more likely to experience symptoms of depression or anxiety later in life.
- The average time spent on screens each day for non-educational reasons is 5.5 hours for pre-teens.
- Tweens who spent the most time on screens had a higher risk of suffering from depression or anxiety later.
- The study shows that the effects of screen use vary, depending on the origin of the children.
This Thursday, October 10, 2024 is World Mental Health Day. And one of the recommendations that could be given to improve it would be: pay attention to children’s screen time. This activity not only impacts their present development, it can also affect their future psyche.
Indeed, pre-teens who spend the most time on screens are more likely to present symptoms of depression and anxiety as they grow up, according to work from the University of California – San Francisco.
Depression: a link with screen time among preteens
The researchers followed more than 9,500 children aged between 9 and 10 at the start of the study for two years. They recorded, among other things, the time they spent on screens per day during the week and on weekends, the devices used and their activities. The behavior and mental health of the young participants were also assessed through questionnaires.
Data analysis showed that these preteens looked at screens for non-educational reasons for 5.5 hours per day on average. It also found that those who spent the most time had an increased risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. To a lesser extent, there was also a link with anxiety, somatic signs and attention deficit or hyperactivity. The activities most strongly associated with depressive symptoms were video chatting, texting, watching videos, and playing video games.
“Screen use can replace time spent engaging in physical activity, sleep, in-person socializing, and other behaviors that reduce depression and anxiety”explains Jason Nagata, lead author of this study published in the journal BMC Public Health.
Screen time and depression: different effects depending on the child’s origin
Scientists have also noticed that the impact of the use of mobile devices varies depending on the origin of the children. Thus, Caucasian preadolescents displayed a significantly stronger association between screen time and symptoms of depression, anxiety, hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder compared to young people of African or Asian origin. However, there was no difference based on gender.
“For minority adolescents, screens and social media may play a different role, serving as important platforms for connecting with peers who share similar backgrounds and experiences”advances Professor Nagata in his press release. “Instead of narrowing their relationships, technology can help them expand their support networks beyond what is accessible in their immediate environment.”