Research from Psychology Alumni Highlights the Impact of Children’s Media Use on Their Mental Health

In a recent PsyPost article, the study, “Screen time, problematic media use, and clinical concerns in the ABCD Study: Differences by sex and race/ethnicity,” was explored, led by Alumni Lauren Eales and Andrea Wiglesworth, along with faculty member Bonnie-Klimes-Dougan. 

Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, they examined parent reports to determine whether children’s problematic use of media (e.g., sneaking screen time, relying on media to cope with negative emotions), versus screen time in and of itself, predicted mental health issues. Their results showed that problematic use of media was a much stronger predictor of mental health issues than screen time alone and that children who engage in such behaviors are more likely to experience emotional and behavioral problems. Such children are also more likely to engage in self-harm and have suicidal thoughts. These associations were consistent across racial and ethnic groups and between sexes.