Mental well-being and digital devices: the impact of screen time on mental health (2023)

FAQs

How does screen time affect your mental health? ›

The outcomes are conflicting, with many studies finding negative mental health effects of using screens such as depression, anxiety, and brain fog. Some more positive outcomes include creativity, increased wellbeing, and elevated psychosocial effects of using social media in adults.

Teens and adults who spent time looking at screens for more than six hours a day were much more likely to experience moderate to severe depression than those who spent less time with their screens. Experts believe that one factor increasing the depression for people relying on screens is disconnectedness.

Social media and mobile devices may lead to psychological and physical issues, such as eyestrain and difficulty focusing on important tasks. They may also contribute to more serious health conditions, such as depression. The overuse of technology may have a more significant impact on developing children and teenagers.

Too much screen time can lead to obesity, sleep problems, chronic neck and back problems, depression, anxiety and lower test scores in children. Children should limit screen time to 1 to 2 hours per day. Adults should also try to limit screen time outside of work hours.

Several intrapersonal (e.g., age), interpersonal (e.g., parental television watching, parental rules), and physical environment (e.g., television in child's bedroom) factors within the home setting are related to screen time among school-aged children and youth [17, 18].

Research studies note the connection between use of social media and its undesirable outcomes that increase incidence of anxiety, stress, depression, body image concerns, and loneliness in teens and young adults (APA, 2022).

Sometimes, though, being connected to everything all of the time can put pressure on an individual and has the potential to affect their mental health should they miss out on something or momentarily lose that connection. This is commonly known as the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) and it can be harmful.

Anonymity: Clients can seek treatment options without involving other people. An introduction to care: Technology may be a good first step for those who have avoided mental health care in the past. Lower cost: Some apps are free or cost less than traditional care.

Overall, most published studies show telephonic mental health care is as effective as in-person care in treating depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Vitalli noted that research also has observed a link between certain mental illnesses and internet addiction, including depression, low self-esteem and loneliness.

What are 5 negative effects of technology? ›

What are the effects of technology? It has both positive and negative effect. Some of them are increasing satisfaction, better communication channels, eliminating geographical boundaries and some negatives are obesity, health issues, sleep problems, etc.

While some children cope fine and manage the high and lows of social media interaction, many others are prone to the anxiety, stress, and depression that can, according to some surveys, stem from screen time. “It's all that scrolling. Social media is a highlight reel for these kids,” says Dr.

Just minutes of screen stimulation can delay melatonin release by several hours and desynchronize the body clock. Once the body clock is disrupted, all sorts of other unhealthy reactions occur, such as hormone imbalance and brain inflammation. Plus, high arousal doesn't permit deep sleep, and deep sleep is how we heal.

The effects of screen time can have a substantial negative impact on your kid's brain. A recent study by the National Institutes of Health showed that kids who spend more than two hours a day on screen time activities score lower on language and thinking tests.

The lights and stimuli from screens stress our anatomy, and screen time causes repeated stress on the Central Nervous System. As a result, we can become angry, impulsive, isolated, aggressive and less empathetic. More and more Americans are becoming addicted to their screens, leading to serious mental health problems.

The study says, in part, “The more time you spend looking at a screen, the less time you spend interacting in person with others. This makes it more difficult to establish interpersonal connections and strong relationships, which are important for mental health and the health of the community at large.”

Social media harms

However, social media use can also negatively affect teens, distracting them, disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people's lives and peer pressure. The risks might be related to how much social media teens use.

Body image influences self-esteem, self-acceptance, and someone's general outlook on life, which are three important mental health indicators. With social media full of unrealistic body image standards, a negative body image is enforced and can be harmful to your health.

What are the positive and negative effects of mobile phone? ›

Smartphones have a positive impact that is useful for learning online, looking for material that we do not understand on the internet, and others. On the other hand, smartphones also have a negative impact, namely on students who are addicted to using smartphones, cheat on assignments, lack focus in learning, etc.

Meanwhile, smartphone apps that play subliminal relaxing music in order to distract from the noise and worries of everyday living have been proven to be beneficial in reducing stress and anxiety. Technology can also provide greater access to mental health professionals through email, online chats or video calls.

The first innovative technology used for mental health treatments is Visual Simulation Technology (VST) or Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET). For patients who have agoraphobia, panic disorder, social anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), VST or VRET is an amazing tool.

The usefulness of technology in staying connected, working from home, and having access to medical services has been evident in these challenging times. Expanded security, enhanced communication, increased information, education, and, last but not least, amusement are vital aspects of technology.

Online coping strategies

Focus on connecting with people who make you feel good about yourself. Check your privacy settings so those people who make you feel bad can't see your profile. Indulge yourself with the lighter side of the internet and share all the pictures of cats and cake that make you feel good.

Less Negative Competition

Students who prefer a less competitive environment may be left behind and lose interest. Online schools focus more on the student than how they measure up to peers. This may be better for students who find that competition impacts their mental health.

The study reported by Aristovnik et al. concluded that online learning students were more likely to interrupt their studies and felt more socially isolated, compared with students receiving traditional education (34). Social isolation and loneliness increased the risk of depression and anxiety (42).

The negative aspects of social media

However, multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts. Social media may promote negative experiences such as: Inadequacy about your life or appearance.

Technology affects almost every aspect of 21st century life, from transport efficiency and safety to access to food and healthcare, socialization and productivity. The power of the internet has enabled global communities to form, and ideas and resources to be shared more easily.

How does technology affect your brain? ›

Technology Use Can Create Structural Changes in the Brain.

Pings, alerts, rings, and notifications can shift our focus in a way that can lead to long-lasting difficulties with paying attention. Difficulties paying attention can lead to poorer performance on academic, personal, and professional tasks.

In a way, we are becoming addicted to it. Addiction to gaming among children is a fine example of this, reflecting very poorly in their school grades. Think about how the internet changed our social behavior. Now we interact more on phone calls, emails which have replaced the traditional way of meeting face to face.

Technology addictions can have a severe impact on one's mental health, exacerbating or contributing to anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as other disorders. Technology addiction also can lead to restlessness, irritability, agitation, and anger.

Using technology in classrooms has the potential to create increased student motivation, increased social interactions, positive outcomes, enhanced student learning, and enhanced student engagement. Technology is capable of unlocking keys of learning with all students.

In conclusion, technology is beneficial for humans and society. Even with its negative effects, it has helped society progress to a more advanced level where we can accomplish tasks and problems with ease.

With moderation, there are some benefits of screen time to children: educational value and school-related homework and research. playing video games can improve motor skills and coordination. internet tools, texting, and shared video games are easy and fun ways to socialize and communicate.

Screens reduce empathy

Research has shown that screen time inhibits young children's ability to read faces and learn social skills, two key factors needed to develop empathy. Face-to-face interactions are the only way young children learn to understand non-verbal cues and interpret them.

And if that's the case, staring at screens for hours at a time can break down skin's collagen supply, leading to premature signs of aging like wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots. Besides taking breaks from the screen, protect your complexion against blue light damage by wearing mineral sunscreen daily.

It found that kids with more screen time had an 11% higher risk of more externalizing behavior problems like aggression or inattention. Meanwhile, more screen time was also associated with a 7% higher risk of internalizing problems like anxiety and depression, according to the research.

“Excess screen time effects can include depression, obesity, poor quality of life, unhealthy diet and decreased physical and cognitive abilities.

How does screen time affect adults? ›

Negative Effects of Too Much Screen Time:

Eye Strain and Headaches - Too much time spent looking at screens can cause fatigue or discomfort in your eyes as well as dimmed vision. Glare on screens and the brightness of the display can place further strain on your eyes. Eventually, this strain can lead to headaches.

Set consistent rules about how much screen time is allowed, as well as when and where. Keep TVs and devices out of bedrooms, and turn off TVs when no one is watching. Set screen-free zones (such as not at the dinner table), screen-free times (such as not during family game night) and device curfews.

Screen time can be described as the time spent viewing of TV/video, computer, electronic games, hand-held devices or other visual devices.

Ivanov cautions screens are taking us away from the real relationships in our lives. “Spending extensive hours in front of the computer and smartphone affects your personal life, family, kids, any relationships,” he says. Screen time is also a sedentary behavior, and high sedentary levels are linked to depression.

increasing screen time was generally linked to progressively lower psychological well-being.” The researchers also noted that, “High users of screens were also significantly more likely to have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression.”

Early data from a landmark National Institutes of Health (NIH) study that began in 2018 indicates that children who spent more than two hours a day on screen-time activities scored lower on language and thinking tests, and some children with more than seven hours a day of screen time experienced thinning of the brain's ...

Higher risk for anxiety and depression

Additionally, just spending more time behind the screen can decrease a child's psychological well-being, according to a recent study published in Preventive Medicine Reports. The same study also detailed the psychological differences between high and low screen time users.

Studies have also linked screen time with sleep problems and suggest that the blue light our devices emit can impact our circadian rhythms, the natural cycles in the body that affect waking and sleeping. Studies show that light can disrupt our body clocks and make us more awake at night.

Excessive smartphone and social media use can raise “mental distress, self-injurious behavior and suicidality among youth”; the effect is higher among girls, according to research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Smartphone addicted individuals often experience increased loneliness.

The constant stream of unrealistic visual content delivered through social media can be overwhelming and lead to mental health concerns including feelings of inadequacy, depression and low self-esteem. This is especially concerning for children and teens.

How does technology affect our brains? ›

Technology Use Can Create Structural Changes in the Brain.

Pings, alerts, rings, and notifications can shift our focus in a way that can lead to long-lasting difficulties with paying attention. Difficulties paying attention can lead to poorer performance on academic, personal, and professional tasks.

Screen Time and ADHD

Electronics allow for repeated stimulation and immediate gratification every few seconds. And when we become accustomed to such rapid and frequent stimulation, it can be hard to focus when things in the real world aren't as mesmerizing.

Screens reduce empathy

Research has shown that screen time inhibits young children's ability to read faces and learn social skills, two key factors needed to develop empathy. Face-to-face interactions are the only way young children learn to understand non-verbal cues and interpret them.

Overall, in terms of the relationship between screen use and both physical and mental health outcomes, there have been several studies that suggest higher levels of screen use in children and adolescents is associated with reduced physical activity, increased risk of depression, and lower well-being.

Too much screen time can: Make it hard for your child to sleep at night. Raise your child's risk for attention problems, anxiety, and depression. Raise your child's risk for gaining too much weight (obesity)