During the pandemic, children with higher screen time were more unhappy

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-12-29 03:00

International

What does this mean?

Jump to: MultimediaAttachmentsExpert Reaction

High amounts of screen time are associated with higher depression and anxiety levels in older children and higher behaviour problems in toddlers, according to a Canadian study. The researchers followed the screen time of about 2,000 children in Canada from mid-2020 to mid-2021 and regularly asked their parents to assess their behaviour and mental health. They say children aged two to four with higher screen use were more likely to have behaviour problems and issues with hyperactivity and inattention, while in older children and teens, higher screen time, including TV, video games and online learning, was associated with higher depression and anxiety levels.