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The impact of digital media on health: children’s perspectives

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

Previous research has mainly focused on the effects of excessive digital media use or overuse on the health of children, primarily utilizing quantitative designs. More research should be conducted on general populations of children, rather than focusing exclusively on excessive technology users. This qualitative study describes technology’s impact on physical and mental health from children’s perspectives.

Methods

Focus groups and interviews were conducted with children between the ages of 9 and 16 in 9 European countries (N = 368). During focus groups and interviews, researchers asked what children perceive as being potentially negative or problematic while using the internet and technology.

Results

In this study, children reported several physical and mental health problems without indicating internet addiction or overuse. Physical health symptoms included eye problems, headaches, not eating, and tiredness. For mental health symptoms, children reported cognitive salience of online events, aggression, and sleeping problems. Sometimes they reported these problems within 30 min of technology usage. This suggests that even shorter time usage can cause self-reported health problems for some children.

Conclusions

Qualitative methodology helps to understand what children’s perspectives are concerning the impact of digital media on health. We recommend future studies focused on average technology users and low technology users to determine whether average levels of technology usage relate to health problems of children. Parents and teachers should also be informed about the possible physical and mental health issues associated with children's average usage of technology.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the project ‘Employment of Best Young Scientists for International Cooperation Empowerment’ (CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0037) and the VITOVIN project (CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0184), which are co-financed by the European Social Fund and the state budget of the Czech Republic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Jostova 10, 60200, Brno, Czech Republic

    David Smahel, Michelle F. Wright & Martina Cernikova

Authors
  1. David Smahel
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  2. Michelle F. Wright
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  3. Martina Cernikova
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Smahel.

Additional information

This article is part of the special issue “Communication Technology, Media Use and the Health of Our Kids”.

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Smahel, D., Wright, M.F. & Cernikova, M. The impact of digital media on health: children’s perspectives. Int J Public Health 60, 131–137 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0649-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0649-z

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