A major international study involving nearly 300,000 children has found a two-way connection between children’s screen time and their emotional and social well-being.
The study showed that kids spending more time on devices like TVs, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles faced a higher risk of later developing issues such as aggression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
The link works both ways: children already struggling with social or emotional challenges tended to spend more time on all types of screens.
Published Monday in Psychological Bulletin, the study noted that time on gaming consoles was particularly associated with a greater chance of developing problems.
Dr. Michael Noetel, an associate professor of psychology at The University of Queensland, Australia, and one of the study’s authors, told ABC News, “Rather than breaking it down by the exact game people were playing, it’s safe to make some assumptions. The most games included were console games, computer games and mobile games.”
When asked if violent games like shooting games led to more behavioral issues, Noetel said that wasn’t necessarily true. “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 for kids under 10. Instead, the key finding was that gaming in general — regardless of type — showed much stronger links to emotional problems than other screen activities like watching TV or using educational apps.”
The study’s authors said the key isn’t to eliminate screens entirely. Moderate screen time, especially for educational purposes, carries a lower risk of social or emotional problems.
Children should not rely solely on screens to manage emotions; they should be encouraged to interact with friends and family to build resilience and emotional skills. The study added that it’s crucial to ensure screen time doesn’t interfere with essentials like sufficient sleep and regular physical activity.
Dr. Narula, not involved in the study, said, “We’ve all been guilty of it, but it’s OK to say no and set limits and boundaries as a parent, if you can, in a noncontrolling way.”
Dr. Brendan Huang is chief resident physician in adult neurology at Northwell Health and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.
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