Less screen time and more exercise boosts kids' mental health

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-02-15 03:00

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A Finnish and Australian study has found that kids who spend less time on screens and more time exercising have better mental health when they hit their teens. The team looked at lifestyle - including physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, diet, and screen time - in 187 Finnish teens. They found those who had spent more time on screens, especially their phones, during childhood and who had exercised less were more likely to be stressed and depressed than their peers. Reducing screen time and increasing physical activity could help children remain mentally healthy into adolescence, the authors conclude.

Media release

From: JAMA

Childhood Lifestyle Behaviors and Mental Health Symptoms in Adolescence

About The Study: This cohort study of Finnish children and adolescents found that higher physical activity and lower screen time from childhood were associated with perceived stress and depressive symptoms in adolescence. These findings emphasize reducing screen time and increasing physical activity to promote mental health in youth.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: The University of Newcastle, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Funder: The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children study has been supported by grants from the Research Council of Finland, Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Finland, Research Committee of the Kuopio University Hospital Catchment Area (State Research Funding), Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Foundation for Paediatric Research, Diabetes Research Foundation in Finland, Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, Juho Vainio Foundation, Paavo Nurmi Foundation, Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, and the city of Kuopio.

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