0
0
In a groundbreaking study, researchers have found that reducing screen time for entire families over a two-week period can significantly improve the mental health of children and adolescents. This reduction notably mitigates issues related to internalizing behaviors and promotes prosocial behavior.
Study Overview
The study, led by Jesper Schmidt-Persson, PhD, from the University of Southern Denmark, was published on July 12, 2024, in JAMA Network Open. It involved a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial with 89 families (181 children and adolescents) from 10 municipalities in Denmark. Among these, 45 families reduced their screen time for leisure to less than three hours per week, while the remaining 44 families continued their usual screen habits.
Methodology
In the intervention group, both children and at least one adult family member handed over their smartphones and tablets for two weeks. Television monitors were installed in their homes to ensure compliance. The main outcome measured was the difference in total behavioral difficulties between the two groups, using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.
Findings
The results were compelling:
- The total difficulties score was lower among participants who reduced their screen time compared to those who maintained their usual habits (mean difference, −1.67 points; 95% CI, −2.68 to −0.67).
- Internalizing behaviors, defined as emotional symptoms and peer problems, showed the most significant improvement in the reduced screen time group (mean difference, −1.03 points; 95% CI, −1.76 to −0.29).
- Prosocial behavior also saw notable enhancement (mean difference, 0.84 points; 95% CI, 0.39-1.30).
Commentary and Implications
In an invited commentary, Henning Tiemeier, MD, PhD, from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, highlighted the novelty of the intervention. “What is so novel about this intervention is that it does not recommend a lasting reduction of screen time to some arbitrary guideline level, but it examines a radical short-term break. This intervention could possibly be repeated, constituting an intermittent break strategy,” he wrote.
Limitations and Disclosures
While the findings are promising, the study’s open-label nature may have introduced bias in the assessment of behavioral strengths and difficulties. The short-term follow-up limits the generalizability of the results to long-term effects. Additionally, the study sample may represent a subgroup with particularly high motivation to reduce screen media use, which could influence the generalizability of the findings.
The SCREENS study was supported by the European Research Council, with additional funding from various sources, including the UK Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre in Cambridge, England.
Conclusion
This study provides strong evidence that even short-term reductions in screen time can yield significant mental health benefits for children and adolescents. The findings suggest that intermittent breaks from screens could be a practical and effective strategy for improving the well-being of young people in today’s digital age.
