A study published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports suggests that even an hour of screen time can have significant impacts on the mental health of children as young as two. The research indicates that children and adolescents may experience reduced curiosity, lower self-control, and decreased emotional stability, potentially leading to an increased risk of anxiety and depression.
The study found that nursery school children who frequently used screens were twice as likely to lose their temper. Additionally, 9% of those aged 11 to 13 who spent an hour a day on screens were not curious about learning new things. This figure rose to 22.6% for those whose screen time was seven hours a day or more.
The researchers argue that half of mental health problems develop by adolescence, highlighting the need to identify factors linked to mental health issues that can be intervened upon. They suggest that how children and adolescents spend their leisure time is more amenable to change compared to other factors influencing mental health.
The study includes data on more than 40,000 children aged two to 17 in the US, collected through a nationwide health survey in 2016. The researchers recommend implementing a limit of two hours of screen time per day. They also urge parents and teachers to reduce the time children spend online, playing video games, or watching television to combat potential mental health issues.
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