A new study highlights the potential mental health risks of excessive screen time in preteens, linking it to manic symptoms. Experts urge parents to cultivate healthy screen habits.
Preteens who indulge in excessive screen time are at a higher risk of developing manic symptoms two years later, according to a new study published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.
The research, focusing on 10- to 11-year-olds, reveals that heavy engagement with social media, video games, texting and videos may contribute to an array of manic behaviors, including inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, rapid speech, racing thoughts and impulsivity. These behaviors are characteristic of manic episodes, a hallmark of bipolar-spectrum disorders.
“Adolescence is a particularly vulnerable time for the development of bipolar-spectrum disorders,” said first author Jason Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, said in a news release. “Given that earlier onset of symptoms is linked with more severe and chronic outcomes, it’s important to understand what might contribute to the onset or worsening of manic symptoms in teenagers.”
The study suggests that screen addictions and irregular sleep patterns may exacerbate manic symptoms in susceptible teens.
Symptoms of social media and video game addiction, characterized by the inability to stop despite trying, withdrawal, tolerance, conflict and relapse, are causing significant concern among researchers and health care professionals.
“This study underscores the importance of cultivating healthy screen use habits early,” added co-author Kyle Ganson, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. “Future research can help us better understand the behaviors and brain mechanisms linking screen use with manic symptoms to help inform prevention and intervention efforts.”
To conduct the study, the researchers used data from the nationwide Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, the largest long-term study of brain development in the United States.
The survey included 9,243 early adolescents aged 10-11 years, who provided information about their typical screen habits and whether they had experienced manic or hypomanic symptoms.
“Although screen time can have important benefits, such as education and increased socialization, parents should be aware of the potential risks, especially to mental health,” Nagata added.
The findings emphasize the need for parents and caregivers to pay close attention to their children’s screen usage and to foster healthy habits early on.
“Families can develop a media plan, which could include screen-free times before bedtime,” Nagata added.
This research adds to the expanding knowledge of how screen use affects adolescent mental health and highlights the urgency for more studies to guide prevention and intervention strategies.