The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in screen time among primary school children. A recent study shows that an extra hour and 20 minutes a day was added to their usual daily screen time.
Pandemic Caused More Screen Time for Children
According to The Guardian, the sudden increase in screen time will result in poorer diets in school children, poor eye health, deteriorating mental health, anxiety, aggression, irritability, and increased frequency of temper tantrums.
The study is calling for action to help stop the harmful impact on the health of millions of children worldwide.
The study also shows that the biggest daily increase in screen time was among children aged between six and 10.
However, significant increases were seen among all age groups, even adults, according to Anglia Ruskin University. This has led to the global analysis of studies.
According to the researchers of eClinicalMedicine, the study found that all age groups increased their total screen time.
The primary-aged children have the largest increase recorded, followed by adults, teenagers, and young children.
Leisure screen time also increased in all age groups, with primary-aged children having the largest reported increases, followed by adults, young children, and teens.
Negative Effects of Increased Screen Time
The researchers also found out that the overall time spent looking at screens like the computer or television was linked with a negative impact on sleep, diet, eye health, and mental health.
The study shows that primary school children have the largest increase of 83 minutes each day. Next is adults with a 58-minute increase, and teens aged 11 to 17 showed an increase of 55 minutes of daily screen time.
Children under five had the lowest recorded increase in screen time, as it has only gone up by 35 minutes, but the number is still alarming for the age group, according to the Independent.
Prof. Shahina Pardhan, the senior author of the study, said that their research is "first of its kind" as it looked closer at the peer-reviewed research paper on increases in screen time during the pandemic and its negative impact.
Pardhan said that by bringing together several studies, they were able to get a more accurate picture of screen time among the population and its impact on health.
Pardhan added that the overall picture provides "clear evidence that screen time should be reduce wherever possible" as a way to minimize the negative impact on the health of the children, including poor sleeping schedules, mental health issues, and poor eye health.
Researchers analyzed 89 studies from several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Chile, and Israel.
The analysis also focused on the increases in screen time before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, covering a total sample size of 200,000 people.
The study also included the types of screen time and found that leisure screen time, or screen time that is not related to work or study, also increased in all age groups. Children ages six to 10 showed the biggest increase.
Linked between the increased screen time and negative outcomes for adults were also included. These included negative effects on eye health, diet, and mental health as it causes depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
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Written by Sophie Webster
