Reduced screen time in families may improve behavioral and psychological symptoms in children: JAMA

A new study found that a brief reduction in the screen time during leisure period in families had a significant impact on the psychological symptoms in children and adolescents by reducing internalizing behavioral problems and prosocial behavior. The key findings of this study were published in the most recent issue of the Journal of American Medical Association.

Many observational studies have linked worse mental health of adolescents to excessive screen media use. Yet, there was not enough experimental data to support this theory. Therefore, Jesper Schmidt-Persson and colleagues carried out this study to ascertain the impact of a two-week screen media reduction strategy on the mental health of children and teenagers.

A total of 89 families from 10 Danish towns in the Southern Denmark region participated in a cluster randomized clinical trial with a 2-week follow-up. Every study technique was completed at the the homes of participants. The period of enrollment was from June 6, 2019 to March 30, 2021. These families were randomized to either the control group or the screen media reduction group. The individuals who were assigned to the intervention group required to give up their cellphones and tablets and limit their usage of screen media during leisure time to no more than 3 hours per week.

The primary results were determined by utilizing the Strengths and issues Questionnaire during the 2-week follow-up. The outcomes between-group average variance was the change in overall behavioral issues. Mixed-effects to bit regression models were utilized for the estimation of results, with intention to treat and analyses of full case were performed.

A statistically significant between-group mean difference in the total difficulties score was observed in the sample of 89 families, this comprised a total of 181 adolescents and children. This difference was in favor of the screen media reduction intervention. The prosocial behavior and internalizing symptoms showed the most gains.

Overall, this secondary analysis of the randomized clinical trial demonstrated that the behavioral challenges and strengths of children and adolescents can be positively impacted. This is only possible when the whole family (parents, kids and teenagers) cut back on their leisure-time screen media use for two weeks.

Source:

Schmidt-Persson, J., Rasmussen, M. G. B., Sørensen, S. O., Mortensen, S. R., Olesen, L. G., Brage, S., Kristensen, P. L., Bilenberg, N., & Grøntved, A. (2024). Screen Media Use and Mental Health of Children and Adolescents. In JAMA Network Open (Vol. 7, Issue 7, p. e2419881). American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.19881