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Psychological Correlates of Sedentary Screen Time Behaviour Among Children and Adolescents: a Narrative Review

  • Psychological Issues (V Drapeau and V Ivezaj, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The aims of this narrative review were to (1) synthesise the literature on the relationship between screen time and important mental health outcomes and (2) examine the underpinning factors that can influence this association.

Recent Findings

Paralleling the rise of mental health issues in children and adolescents is the ubiquitous overuse of screens, but it is unclear how screen time is related to important mental health outcomes and whether this association differs by gender, age and screen type.

Methods

Medline/PubMed, PsychINFO and Google Scholar databases were searched on December 2019 for articles published mainly in the last 5 years. The search focused on two main concepts: (i) screen time and (ii) mental health outcomes including anxiety, depression, psychological and psychosocial well-being and body image concerns.

Results

Sixty studies were included in the review. Higher levels of screen time were associated with more severe depressive symptoms. We found moderate evidence for an association between screen time and poor psychological well-being and body dissatisfaction especially among females. Relationships between screen time and anxiety were inconsistent and somewhat gender specific. Social media use was consistently associated with poorer mental health.

Summary

Higher levels of screen time are generally associated with poorer mental health outcomes, but associations are influenced by screen type, gender and age. Practitioners, parents, policy makers and researchers should collectively identify and evaluate strategies to reduce screen time, or to use screens more adaptively, as a means of promoting better mental health among children and adolescents.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Fatima Mougharbel

  2. Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Fatima Mougharbel & Gary S. Goldfield

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 401 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada

    Gary S. Goldfield

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Mougharbel, F., Goldfield, G.S. Psychological Correlates of Sedentary Screen Time Behaviour Among Children and Adolescents: a Narrative Review. Curr Obes Rep 9, 493–511 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-020-00401-1

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