PREVIEW

Study Links Excessive Screen Time to Developmental Issues in Children. PsyPost reports that a recent study found a significant link between various developmental and behavioral problems in children and excessive screen time. The study, published in the 'Journal of Psychiatric Research,' relied on data from the 2018 to 2020 National Survey of Children's Health. According to the study, over 70% of preschoolers and more than 80% of older children are exposed to excessive screen time. For preschoolers, the researchers defined "excessive screen time" as one hour or more each day. For children between the ages of 6 and 17, the threshold for "excessive screen time" is defined as two hours or more per day. Excessive screen time was linked with behavioral problems, developmental delays, speech disorders and learning disabilities. The researchers also found a link to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study indicated a potential period of increased sensitivity to screen exposure for both preschool-aged children and boys. "Caregivers, educators, policy makers, and health care providers should pay more attention to the screen time of children and it is necessary to take applicable interventions at an early stage for children with excessive digital media use." Study authors, via PsyPost. PsyPost highlights the need for more nuanced and longitudinal studies in the future to further examine and define the impact of digital exposure on childhood development. THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT