(ANN/AFP/THE STAR) – A recent study of preteens in the USA has found a significant link between excessive screen time and the onset of manic symptoms. Unsurprisingly, social media, video games and texting were singled out in particular.
Excessive screen time may negatively impact health. Although video games can enhance some cognitive skills and aid in stress relief, overuse might trigger manic symptoms in younger kids. This is the conclusion of a North American research published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.
According to health professionals, manic symptoms are characterised by excessive energy, mood swings from one extreme to the other, and the disruption of mental functions and/or sleep needs: “Manic symptoms include inflated self-esteem or grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, flight of ideas, distractibility, increased goal-directed activity, and excessive involvement in pleasurable activities,” the researchers explain in their paper.
The researchers examined the screen usage patterns of 9,243 preteens aged 10 to 11 from 2017 to 2019. The findings were clear: preteens with greater daily screen time at the beginning of the study were more prone to exhibit manic symptoms two years afterwards.
The researchers identified the types of screen use most implicated in this phenomenon. Although videos and video games were linked to a rise in manic symptoms, it appeared that texting and social media had the most concerning impact. Extended time spent on these platforms is believed to encourage cognitive and emotional hyperstimulation, increasing adolescents’ susceptibility to mood disorders.
Two key mechanisms explain this correlation. Firstly, the inability to control screen time can result in actual screen addictions. Secondly, reduced sleep time, frequently attributed to nocturnal engagement with social media and gaming.
If social networks are so stimulating, it’s mainly due to the reward system (with likes, comments, etc.), which boosts dopamine levels in users and encourages them to compulsively over-use screens. “Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by profound physical, emotional, and cognitive maturation,” the study reads.
Given these discoveries, the researchers caution about the necessity to control screen usage among young children. They advocate for an educational method, proposing the inclusion of courses on digital usage starting from elementary school to promote a decrease in screen time. Establishing a time restriction for social media, video games, and other digital engagements may assist in lowering the likelihood of mental health issues in young children.
It’s crucial to stress, however, that this study does not prove a direct causal link between screen time and manic symptoms. It is possible that children predisposed to mania naturally spend more time on screens. What’s more, the data on screen time was self-reported, which may introduce bias, the researchers point out.
