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A new study has revealed that teenagers and adolescents who engage in sedentary behaviours for more than three hours a day—such as playing video games or excessive screen exposure—are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.
Published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, the study found that adolescents who spent more than 180 minutes per day on screens for leisure were more likely to experience psychological distress by the age of 17.
The research also indicated that video games had a particularly strong impact, with each additional hour of gameplay linked to a 3% increase in psychological distress. Surprisingly, excessive reading for leisure—especially among boys—was also associated with increased psychological distress. Researchers suggested that this could be due to the displacement of social interactions, which are essential for mental well-being.
Conversely, moderate screen exposure (between 60 and 119 minutes per day) for educational activities—such as homework or attending virtual classes—was linked to lower psychological distress, serving as a protective factor for adolescents.
“Sedentary behaviour includes a variety of activities, such as using a computer, watching television, reading, listening to music, or attending class. Most research focuses on analysing total sitting time, but we can have positive sedentary activities, such as attending class and doing homework, for example. And there are activities that are not beneficial, such as spending too much time on the Internet or playing video games,” explained Andre de Oliveira Werneck, a doctoral student at the School of Public Health of the University of São Paulo (FSP-USP) in Brazil.
The study highlights the growing concerns over sedentary lifestyles among adolescents, not just for their physical health—where risks of obesity and cardiovascular diseases are well-documented—but also for their mental well-being.
To conduct the study, a research team from King’s College London collected data from 3,675 adolescents, first at age 14 and then again at age 17. At 14, participants recorded their daily activities, including physical activity, sleep duration, recreational screen time, non-screen recreational activities, and educational sedentary behaviour. At 17, they were assessed for psychological distress.
Although reading is generally associated with cognitive benefits and positive mental health outcomes, the findings suggest that excessive solitary reading may lead to greater isolation, reducing opportunities for face-to-face social interactions and outdoor activities, which are crucial for mental well-being. Additionally, reading on digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers could contribute to the negative effects.
Based on these findings, researchers recommend interventions such as setting clear limits on recreational screen time and promoting more structured, educational screen activities. Encouraging face-to-face interactions and outdoor activities could also help mitigate the negative impacts of excessive sedentary behaviour.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a scientific study and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered medical advice. Readers concerned about mental health should consult a qualified healthcare professional.
