Running head: EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

Effects of Screen Time in Children

Christopher Brown
ETD 624
Saginaw Valley State University

Table of Contents

EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

Abstract............................................................................................................................................3

Effects of Screen Time in Children..................................................................................................4

Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Cardiovascular Risks...........................................................4
Sleep............................................................................................................................................7
Psychosocial and Behavioral Impacts.........................................................................................8
Conclusion/Interventions.............................................................................................................8

References......................................................................................................................................11

Abstract

EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

As technology use and screen time became even more of a fixture in our society, it was critical
that we look at the effects that increased technology use and screen time have, especially on our
children. The effect of screen time had been studied and increases in technology; television,
video games, and other sedentary behaviors were hurting youth all around the world. Screen time
and technology use was more dominant than it had ever been and it was still rising. At home and
in our schools, children were in front of screens more than ever. What are the impacts of these
increased amounts of screen time? Whether the physical health issues (obesity, metabolic
syndrome, and cardiovascular risk), the impact on sleep, or psychosocial/behavioral, these effects
were very real and they needed to take a serious look at them, as well as possible interventions to
these large increased amounts of screen time and technology use to make sure our children were
developing and growing in the most positive ways possible.
Keywords: screen time, health, children, effects, technology

Effects of Screen Time in Children

Technology was becoming more and more prevalent in all aspects of human life, both
personally and professionally. The amount of screen time required for schoolwork and the
amount that was spent for leisure activities are ever growing. Whether it was computers,
television, video games, or mobile devices, like cell phones, children were being exposed to
more technology and screen time at younger ages and with that comes a multitude of impacts on
the current and future health of the children. The effects of screen time and technology use in
children were well studied and documented. Unfortunately, many parents were either unaware of
these research studies or choose to ignore the facts about what increased screen time can do to

EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

their children. A variety of health issues in children have shown correlation with increased
amounts of screen time through a number of different research studies. Obesity, sleep,
cardiovascular health, as well as other negative behavioral impacts had all been studied and
shown to correlate with the amount of screen time and technology use in children. The specific
results varied among the different studies as to how much of an effect screen time had, but the
overall message had been the same; as screen time reached above recommended levels for that
age group, adverse health effects became more frequent. Along with the studies presented on the
adverse effects on screen time, many of these studies had also presented evidence of possible
interventions to combat these health problems associated with screen time.
Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Cardiovascular Risks
Increased obesity, risk of metabolic syndrome, and higher cardiac risks were dominant
health effects associated with increased amount of screen time. Adolescent obesity had tripled in
the past 30 years in the United States. (Boone, Gordon-Larson, Adair, & Popkin, 2007) Screen
time and technology use, both sedentary behaviors, were positively related to obesity,
particularly in youth, across multiple studied on the subject. Studies conducted in the United
States generally set a recommendation that children do not participate in more than two hours a
day of screen time, and these limits were also confirmed by the American Physicians
Association. (Anderson, Economos, & Must, 2008) Sedentary behaviors, like screen time, that
lead to obesity, were not just an issue in the United States, but internationally as well. An
international study published in 2015 showed a positive correlation between screen time and a
childs body fat percentage. (LeBlanc et al., 2015) This study took sample sets of children from
12 different countries, on six of the seven continents, and the children from all 12 countries
yielded results that showed a positive association between increased screen time leading to

EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

increased risk of obesity. As children surpassed these recommended limits and increased their
screen time, the risk for obesity also increased. One particular study showed that those who
reported more than four hours per day of screen time, which is double the recommended limit set
by the American Physicians Association, had double the chances of being classified as
overweight regardless of the amount of physical activity level. (Pate, ONeill, & Lobelo, 2008)
Metabolic syndrome, which was often connected to obesity, was also presented as
another large risk associated with adolescent screen time. Metabolic syndrome included risk of
Type 2 diabetes, as well as other chronic health risks and increased risk of premature mortality.
(Mark, & Janssen, 2008) The study by Mark and Janssen (2008) in which over 1000 young
people were studied, showed that 75% of that sample were above the two hour recommend
amount of daily screen time. The results showed a gradient dose-response related to the
amount of screen time per day, the increase in daily screen time showed increased risk of
metabolic syndrome. Of the over 1000 study subjects, those whose screen time was 50% greater
than the daily recommendation of two hours per day, which was an average of three hours or
more per day, those individuals were shown to have a two to three times greater risk of metabolic
syndrome, and associated issues, like Type 2 diabetes. Like the previously presented studies on
screen time and its impact on obesity, increased risk of metabolic syndrome as it related to screen
time and technology use, was shown to be independent of the physical activity level of those
studied.
Cardiovascular risks were also connected to metabolic syndrome and obesity. These
cardiovascular issues, such as, increased levels of cholesterol, high risk of cardiovascular disease
(CVD), issues with blood pressure, and overall cardiorespiratory health had all been documented
as risks associated with increase screen time. A study from the European Journal of Preventive

EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

Cardiology showed that increases in the total screen time of children was consistent with
increased risk of CVD, raised cholesterol, lower cardiorespiratory fitness, and higher blood
pressure. (Grontved et al. 2012) The connection between screen time and being associated with
cardiovascular issues had not been shown to be solely responsible, but studies like Grontved et
al. (2012) and others, mentioned screen time and other sedentary behaviors related to poor
dietary choices, along with the screen time increases, resulted in increased cardiovascular risk.
Childhood obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular risks were associated factors
that were all prevalent in studies associated with a childs screen time habits and their overall
quality of health as an adolescent and then as an adult. Many of these health effects were not
shown in the children at the time of the study, but some of the health issues would not be shown
until later in adulthood. These serious health risks, that had been related, at least in part, to an
increased mortality rate, start in childhood, and screen time clearly showed an impact on these
different health effects and the long-term results therein.
Sleep
Screen time effects on sleep had been researched as to how it related to children. Higher
amounts of screen time and technology use had shown a strong connection with shorter sleep
durations. (De Jong et al., 2013) The study showed not only was the amount of sleep shorter, but
the sleep was often interrupted, due to the fact that the users brain was still active from the
technology use that occurred. The more time spent in front of the television, on the computer, or
on a handheld, mobile device, all lead to shorter, often interrupted, sleep for the user, especially
if that screen time and technology use happened in the hours immediately before bedtime.
(Gamble et al. 2014) More screen time use lead to more severe levels sleep time disturbances
impacted academic achievement. (Tenson, Linson, & Mathias, 2014) Another study showed
shorter amounts of sleep had in turn showed similar negative effects on academic achievement as
6

EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

well as potential long-term health impairments. One particular study by Ham, Sung, and Kim
(2013) showed an increase in screen time lead to a decrease in sleep duration that was shown to
decrease the students confidence to do well and perform in school as well as an increase in
student stress levels. Decreased student confidence and increased stress, combined with lack of
sleep to provide the students ability to focus on the instruction being presented, created an
almost non-functioning student when all of these effects combined.
Postponed sleep and/or wake times, as well as an overall wake delay had all been shown
to have an association with increased screen time amounts. (Gamble et al. 2014) Gamble et al.
(2014) reported that, Over 70% of adolescents reported 2 or more electronic devices in their
bedroom at night. This large percentage of in-room devices and their use showed dosedependent correlations of postponed sleep time, the more technology and screen time the user
had before bed, the longer it took for them to fall asleep once the device had stopped being used.
This lag in sleep and wake schedules, along with the amount of time it took to wake up (wake lag
or wake delay) was associated with negative impacts on the students academic success, one
study specifically showed significant declines in their verbal memory performance. (Tenson,
Linson, & Mathias, 2014)
Besides the direct impacts of technology use on sleep, lack of sleep duration, levels and
amounts of sleep disturbances, and an irregular sleep scheduled had indirectly associated with a
number of other health issues like obesity. (De Jong et al. 2013) Which as previously stated, was
one of the most dominant health risks of screen time. The effect of technology use on sleep had
clearly showed a negative impact on overall physical health in the long-term and negative impact
on academic performance in the short and long term.
Psychosocial and Behavioral Impacts

EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

Screen time had clearly shown an impact on physical health, but mental health and behavior had
been negatively impacted as well. Todays media was full of images and themes that were not
age appropriate for those young people using them. Televisions shows, video games, and the
Internet had allowed children access to more violence, sexual content, alcohol and drug use, and
many other inappropriate themes. (Mark, Boyce, & Janssen, 2006) The exposure to more adult
themes had desensitized children to them. Many parents had disregarded, or were not vigilant
enough in monitoring what their children were watching or the games they were playing. The
most violent video games were the most popular sellers and children made up the majority of
those sales. The students who spent their time in those sedentary behaviors, particularly when the
themes of those behaviors were not age-appropriate, showed higher levels of emotional
difficulties and depressive symptoms. (Kremer et al., 2014) Screen time had also been connected
to decreases in school performance, getting in trouble, as well as feeling bored or unhappy.
(Maniccia, Davison, Marshall, Manganello, & Dennison, 2011)

Conclusion/Interventions
Research showed the variety of effects that screen time had on children. Increased screen
time was clearly associated with serious, if not fatal, health risks. The lack of sleep and disrupted
sleep schedule impacted the physical health as well as educational growth of the individual. The
psychosocial and behavioral impacts that existed with increased screen time were vast. As future
generations were introduced to technology and screen time en mass, it was the responsibility of
the current generations to work at combatting the negative effects of screen time on the children.
Many current studies about the effects on screen time had recommended a variety of
different interventions to fight the growing epidemic of screen time and sedentary behaviors and

EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

their effects on children. Studies had showed that a simple reduction of a childs screen time
reduced the previously stated effects. These reductions had been shown to increase mood, and
sleep and lead to better educational performance. (Rusby, Westling, Crowley, & Light, 2013;
Tenson, Linson, & Mathias, 2014). Multiple studies discussed that intervention and public health
programs to reduce a childs screen time should be implemented. (Maniccia, Davison, Marshall,
Manganello, & Dennison, 2011; Mark, Boyce, & Janssen, 2006; Mark, & Janssen, 2008) Other
studies discussed benefit of programs that not only decreased a childs screen time, but also
replaced that screen time with physical activity. (Berentzen et al., 2014; Epstein et al, 2008;
Kremer et al., 2014; Lacy et al., 2012; Melkvik, Torsheim, Iannotti, & Wold, 2010; Pate, ONeill,
& Lobelo, 2008) Other research had discussed the need to have interventions targeted at parents
to reduce their screen time habits and set acceptable limits for their children through leading by
example, stating that if a parent(s) decreased screen time that childrens would as well. (De Jong
et al., 2013; Jago et al., 2014)
Interventions, like the effects, were various, but the increased screen time of children
were growing at such a rate that interventions must be introduced to insure the health and wellbeing of generations that were to grow up in this technology rich society.

EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

10

References
Anderson, S., Economos, C., & Must, A. (2008). Active play and screen time in US children
aged 4 to 11 years in relation to sociodemographic and weight status characteristics: A
nationally representative cross-sectional analysis. BMC Public Health, 366-366.
Berentzen, N. E., Smit, H. A., Van Rossem, L., Gehring, U., Kerkhof, M., Postma, D. S., Wijga,
A. H. (2014). Screen time, adiposity and cardiometabolic markers: Mediation by physical
activity, not snacking, among 11-year-old children. International Journal of
Obesity, 38(10), 1317-23.

10

EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

11

Boone, J., Gordon-Larsen, P., Adair, L., & Popkin, B. (2007). Screen time and physical activity
during adolescence: Longitudinal effects on obesity in young adulthood. International
Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 26-26.
De Jong, E., Visscher, T. L. S., Hirasing, R. A., Heymans, M. W., Seidell, J. C., & Renders, C. M.
(2013). Association between TV viewing, computer use and overweight, determinants
and competing activities of screen time in 4- to 13-year-old children. International
Journal of Obesity, 37(), 47-53.
Epstein, L., Roemmich, J., Robinson, J., Paluch, R., Winiewicz, D., Fuerch, J., & Robinson, T.
(2008). A Randomized Trial of the Effects of Reducing Television Viewing and Computer
Use on Body Mass Index in Young Children. Med Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent
Medicine, 239-239.
Gamble, A. L., Bartlett, D. J., Williams, S., Bin, Y. S., Grunstein, R. R., & Marshall, N. S.
(2014). Adolescent sleep patterns and night-time technology use: Results of the
Australian broadcasting corporation's big sleep survey. PLoS One, 9(11), e111700.
Griffiths, L. J., Dowda, M., Dezateux, C., & Pate, R. (2010). Associations between sport and
screen-entertainment with mental health problems in 5-year-old children. International
Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 7, 30.
Grontved, A., Ried-Larsen, M., Moller, N., Kristensen, P., Wedderkopp, N., Froberg, K.,
Andersen, L. (2012). Youth screen-time behaviour is associated with cardiovascular risk
in young adulthood: The European Youth Heart Study. European Journal of Preventive
Cardiology, 49-56.
Ham, O. K., Sung, K. M., & Kim, H. K. (2013). Factors associated with screen time among
school-age children in Korea. The Journal of School Nursing, 29(6), 425-34.

11

EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

12

Jago, R., Thompson, J. L., Sebire, S. J., Wood, L., Pool, L., Zahra, J., & Lawlor, D. A. (2014).
Cross-sectional associations between the screen-time of parents and young children:
Differences by parent and child gender and day of the week. International Journal of
Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 11, 54.
Kremer, P., Elshaug, C., Leslie, E., Toumbourou, J. W., Patton, G. C., & Williams, J. (2014).
Physical activity, leisure-time screen use and depression among children and young
adolescents. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 17(2), 183-7.
Lacy, K. E., Allender, S. E., Kremer, P. J., de Silva-Sanigorski, A.,M., Millar, L. M., Moodie, M.
L., . . . Swinburn, B. A. (2012). Screen time and physical activity behaviours are
associated with health-related quality of life in Australian adolescents. Quality of Life
Research, 21(6), 1085-99.
LeBlanc, A. G., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Barreira, T. V., Broyles, S. T., Chaput, J., Church, T. S., . . .
Group, I. R. (2015). Correlates of total sedentary time and screen time in 9-11 year-old
children around the world: The international study of childhood obesity, lifestyle and the
environment. PLoS One, 10(6)
Maniccia, D., Davison, K., Marshall, S., Manganello, J., & Dennison, B. (2011). A Meta-analysis
of Interventions That Target Children's Screen Time for Reduction. Pediatrics.
Mark, A., & Janssen, I. (2008). Relationship between screen time and metabolic syndrome in
adolescents. Journal of Public Health, 153-160.
Mark, A., Boyce, W., & Janssen, I. (2006). Television viewing, computer use and total screen
time in Canadian youth. Retrieved October 2, 2015.

12

EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME

13

Melkevik, O., Torsheim, T., Iannotti, R., & Wold, B. (2010). Is spending time in screen-based
sedentary behaviors associated with less physical activity: A cross national investigation.
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 46-46.
Pate, R., O'Neill, J., & Lobelo, F. (2008) The Evolving Definition of "Sedentary" Exercise and
Sport Sciences Reviews, 173-178.
Rusby, J., Westling, E., Crowley, R., & Light, J. (2013). Psychosocial Correlates of Physical and
Sedentary Activities of Early Adolescent Youth. Health Education & Behavior, 42-51.
Tenson, T. A., Linson, C. C., & Mathias, T. (2014). A descriptive study to assess screen viewing
and sleeping hours among high and low achievers school children (from standard 3 standard 7) in selected schools at Mangalore. Asian Journal of Nursing Education and
Research, 4(3), 328-333.

13