Infectious Disease

More screen time during the COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on children’s mental health

December 30, 2021

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Li does not report any relevant financial information. Please refer to the study for all relevant financial information from the other authors.

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Children and teens with more screen time were at increased risk of poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a longitudinal cohort study conducted in Canada and published on JAMA Network Open.

“Research by our group has shown that stress from social isolation is associated with deterioration in several areas of mental health during COVID-19.” Xuedi Li, MSc, of the Hospital for Sick Children in Canada, and colleagues wrote. “In addition to high screen usage and social isolation, children’s mental health deterioration could be related to shifts in sleep, physical activity, and other prosocial activities that were disrupted during the pandemic. Exposure to online bullying, stressful news, and harmful advertisements while screen usage could also contribute to poor mental health in children during the pandemic. “

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Researchers in Ontario, Canada, between May 2020 and April 2021, are investigating possible associations between certain types of screen use and symptoms of depression, anxiety, behavior problems, irritability, hyperactivity and inattentiveness in 2,026 children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years in Ontario, Canada included participants from two community cohorts and two clinically referred cohorts. The parents repeatedly answered questionnaires about the health behavior and psychological symptoms of their children during the pandemic. The exposure variables were the children’s daily television or digital media time, video play time, electronic learning time and video chat time. Parent-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, and irritability and hyperactivity / inattention according to validated standardized tools were used as mental health endpoints.

The results showed that longer television or digital media time correlated with higher levels of behavioral problems and hyperactivity / inattentiveness in younger children (mean age 5.9 years). More time spent watching TV or digital media correlated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and inattentiveness; more time playing video games correlated with higher levels of depression, irritability, inattention, and hyperactivity in older children and adolescents (mean age 11.3 years). Li and colleagues found higher levels of depression and anxiety in those with more electronic study time.

“Our results can help inform public health guidelines that consider different forms of screen use in preventing mental disorders in children and adolescents during the pandemic,” the researchers write. “With the support of policy makers, schools and teachers, families and health professionals, children and youth will be better positioned to reduce screen usage and promote mental health during the pandemic and beyond.”

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