Children face mental health risks due to their use of electronic devices, according to a new study.
A team of psychologists and mental health experts from multiple institutions in Denmark have suggested that simply reducing children’s screen time to three hours a week could significantly improve their mental health.
In a paper published in JAMA Network Open, the group, which also collaborates with colleagues in the UK, describes the impact of reducing screen time in a randomized clinical trial involving 89 families.Medical Express.
Previous studies have shown that children who spend long periods of time on electronic devices – whether watching movies and videos, using social media or playing video games – are at risk of developing mental health problems, including antisocial behaviour and difficulties regulating their emotions.
In the new study, the team wondered whether quitting such activities would improve mental health, and if so, how quickly the change might occur.
To investigate the changes, the researchers conducted a clinical trial involving 89 families, including 181 children, from 10 cities in Denmark.
The study tested all of the children in the study using the Utilizing Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to find out more about their social skills, general behavior, emotional stability, and overall mental health.
All children in the 45 families were then asked to limit their electronic device use to three hours per week, not including at school, and video monitors were installed in participants’ homes to monitor compliance over a two-week period.
Afterwards, they had all the children fill out the same questionnaire again to see if there were any differences.
As a result, the researchers found that the children’s social skills improved significantly, including fewer behavioral problems and having to deal with emotional issues.
