A substantial international study involving nearly 300,000 children worldwide has identified a reciprocal relationship between screen time and children’s emotional and social well-being. It found that higher usage of devices such as televisions, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles raised the risk of developing issues like aggression, anxiety, and low self-esteem later in life.
Conversely, children already facing social or emotional difficulties tend to spend more time engaged with screens. Notably, time spent on gaming consoles was particularly associated with a higher likelihood of encountering these emotional challenges, as highlighted in research published on Monday in the journal Psychological Bulletin.
“Rather than breaking it down by the exact game people were playing, it’s safe to make some assumptions,” stated Dr. Michael Noetel, an associate professor of psychology at The University of Queensland and one of the study’s authors, in an interview with ABC News. He noted that the majority of games analyzed were console, computer, and mobile games.
When queried about the influence of violent video games on behavior, Dr. Noetel clarified that this was not necessarily indicative of greater behavioral issues. “Some studies broke the games down by whether they were violent, but our interpretation was that most parents knew to limit the amount of violent content to give kids under 10. Instead, [the] key finding was that gaming in general — regardless of the specific type — showed much stronger links to emotional problems than other screen activities like watching TV or using educational apps.”
This extensive study stands out as one of the largest of its kind, examining 117 long-term studies conducted between 1972 and 2024. By focusing on children aged 10 and under and tracking them over time, the researchers were able to more effectively determine causation.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting recreational screen time to one hour per day on weekdays and three hours on weekends for children aged 2 to 5. The findings suggest that children who exceed these recommended guidelines are at a higher risk of experiencing socio-emotional issues compared to those adhering to the limits.
Dr. Tara Narula, ABC News chief medical correspondent, remarked on Tuesday’s “Good Morning America” about the startling statistics: “More than 40% of kids [ages] 8 to 12 are using screens for more than four hours per day. You add to that the fact that we are seeing rising rates of mental health disorders in kids, and half of these disorders start before the age of 14 — you can understand why we need to understand the effects of screens on our kids.”
So, what is the primary advice for parents? The authors of the study emphasize that the goal should not be the complete elimination of screens. Moderate engagement, especially for educational purposes, is linked to a reduced risk of future social or emotional problems.
Children are encouraged to not rely solely on screens to manage their emotions but to engage with friends and family, fostering resilience and emotional skills. Importantly, screen time should not interfere with essential activities like adequate sleep and regular physical exercise.
“We’ve all been guilty of it, but it’s OK to say no and to set limits and boundaries, and do it in a noncontrolling way as a parent, if you can,” advised Narula, who was not part of the study. Dr. Brendan Huang, the chief resident physician in adult neurology at Northwell Health, also contributed to the ABC News Medical Unit.