Editor's ChoiceMain Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;??ADHD;??Mental Health
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A child who spends at least two hours a day in front of a TV screen or computer monitor has a significantly higher risk of developing psychological problems, no matter how much physical activity they do, researchers from the University of Bristol's Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, England reported in an article published in the American Journal of Pediatrics. The more physically active children who were in front of a screen for at least two hours a day appeared to do better than their sedentary peers in emotional and peer problems, but fared worse in behavioral areas, including hyperactivity.
This latest study, called The PEACH project, assessed over 1,000 kids aged ten and eleven years. The investigators gathered data on how long they spent in front of a computer monitor and/or TV screen, as well as their mental health. The children's levels of physical activity were measured and recorded using an activity monitor.
The researchers found that those children who spend at least two hours watching TV and/or using their computer for non-homework use (recreational use) had higher psychological difficulty scores compared to their peers who spent less time in front of screens. The investigators add that the difficulty scores persisted, irrespective of how physically active the children were.
In other words, it appears that regular prolonged exposure to monitors/screens increases the risk of psychological problems, and exercise does not seem to get rid of the problem.
The authors believe that limiting a child's exposure to TV/Computer screens could play an important role in protecting their current and future mental health and well-being.
The activity monitor indicated that: Kids whose physical activity were gauged as sedentary appeared to get better overall psychological scores.Children with moderate physical activity seemed to have more behavior problems, including hyperactivity, but had better scores relating to peer problems and emotional issues.Their psychological well-being was evaluated via questionnaires which asked them to rate their strengths and difficulties in areas of hyperactivity, behavior (conduct), emotional, and peer problems. They read a series of statements and were asked to rate their truth value with a score of 1 to 3 - with 1 being untrue and 3 being certainly true. En example of statements they had to rate regarding emotional well-being included; "I am often unhappy, down-hearted or tearful', while statements to assess their peer problems included; 'I am usually on my own', 'I generally play alone or keep to myself."
Lead author, Angie Page said:Whilst low levels of screen viewing may not be problematic, we cannot rely on physical activity to 'compensate' for long hours of screen viewing.Watching TV or playing computer games for more than two hours a day is related to greater psychological difficulties irrespective of how active children are.
Source: University of Bristol's Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences
"Children's Screen Viewing is Related to Psychological Difficulties Irrespective of Physical Activity"
Angie Page et al
Published online October 11, 2010
PEDIATRICS (doi:10.1542/peds.2010-1154d)
Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
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posted by pj on 11 Oct 2010 at 5:46 amIt's wrong to conclude that screen usage causes psychological problems.
Results of statistical tests such as these cannot determine cause and effect. It could be that kids with psychological problems use screens for over 2 hours, or that a 3rd factor, perhaps low birth weight makes both increased screen usage and psychological problems occur.
The strongest language you can use is 'linked'. Which caused which cannot be determined.
So please stop sensationalizing the results of these types of experiments.
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posted by anonymous on 11 Oct 2010 at 5:58 am
If the issue is exposure to the screen itself, why does it matter whether computer usage is recreational or for homework?
Is there any trend toward higher correlations with specific types of screens? Would using an iPad to read eBooks instead of paper books cause the same issues? What if it was a Kindle, which emits no light of its own but rather uses ambient light?
If the message here is "Keep your kids away from the computer screen!", there are far greater implications as schools require more Internet research for homework and eBooks gain greater market share... assuming there isn't really some special exemption for homework use.
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posted by rob on 11 Oct 2010 at 6:15 am
These kinds of surveys are proven time and again to be very skewed and not enough information collated to give a absolute scientific answer. did all the children survey have exactly the same environment such as parents social wealth? Also the content of what is view I feel would have a great bearing such as discovery planet or grand theft auto! It gets my goat these headline quotes to scare parents today! If anyone has psychological it's mothers who take all this information in and stress the kids out by being dithering wrecks.
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posted by Dr Billy Levin on 12 Oct 2010 at 9:22 am
The authors are confused. Children with problems like ADHD will naturally gravitrate to the TV/computer because of their right brains talents. The author has put the cart before the horse. These right brain vision talented children have the ability to also have more emotional problems, not caused by the TV but as a genetically inherited condition.
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posted by evelyn haskins on 14 Oct 2010 at 10:44 pm
While I agree with previous posters re kids with psychological problems or potential for psychological problems (as Asperger's kids) are far more likely to use the computer for hours a day, I also know from bitter experience that with some children too long watching a TV screen makes them both lethargic and aggressive.
Known as "Zombie TV viewers" these kids seem to go into an hypnotised state, even though when asked later they seem to not even remember what they were watching. With my son, we found that IF we MADE him look away from the screen and talk to use during the commercials he seemed to be OK.
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posted by Catherine Doyle on 5 Nov 2010 at 8:09 am
Is it just me? It would seem this study also shows a relationship between physical activity and problems when it shows that sedentary children fared better psychologically than more active subjects as measured by the activity monitor. Maybe physical activity is the culprit. lol
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