Screen viewing has psychological impact

Children who spend too much time in front of screens, whether television or computer, may be risking their future health and well-being, according to new research.

A study carried out by the University of Bristol’s Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences has found that children who spend more than two hours a day watching television or playing computer games are more likely to suffer psychological difficulties, regardless of how active they are. The project involved more than 1,000 children aged between ten and 11.

Researchers measured the time children spent in front of a screen as well as assessing their psychological well-being. An activity monitor recorded both children’s sedentary time and moderate physical activity. The results showed that more than two hours per day of both television viewing and recreational computer use were related to higher psychological difficulty scores, regardless of how much time the children spent doing physical activities.

According to the activity monitor, the children in the study who spent more time sedentary had better psychological scores overall. Those children who did more moderate physical activity fared better in certain psychological areas, including emotional and peer problems, but fared worse in some areas related to behaviour, including hyperactivity. Children’s psychological well-being was assessed on the basis of a strengths and difficulties questionnaire which rated their emotional, peer, conduct and hyperactivity problems.

Lead author Dr Angie Page said: ‘Whilst low levels of screen viewing may not be problematic, we cannot rely on physical activity to “compensate” for long hours of screen viewing. Watching TV or playing computer games for more than two hours a day is related to greater psychological difficulties irrespective of how active children are.’

For more information, visit the University of Bristol’s website .