Questions about the effects of screen time abound in our modern society. Does it really affect mental health or social responding? How does it impact our youth? Research has begun to shed light on the effects of increased screen time (e.g., doom scrolling) and screen addiction on youth.
A recent large study finds a relationship between screen time, suicidal behaviors, and mental health generally. The study first found that approximately one third of children followed from age 9 experienced signs of addictive social media/smart phone use by age 11. A similar pattern emerged for video game addiction.
The study also found that all these addictive screen time behaviors were associated with increased risk of suicidal outcomes. When it came to general mental health difficulties, addictive social media use was related to externalizing mental health difficulties. On the other hand, addictive gaming was related to increased risk of internalizing mental health.
The study did not look at causation, so it did not find that these forms of screen addiction directly lead to suicide and mental health difficulties. There could be something else that already exists that makes it likely for some individuals to engage in both high screen time and suicidal behavior. Future research should examine whether these variables share a causal relationship or whether other factors account for the observed association.
More females in the study reported social media addiction, whereas more males reported gaming addiction. However, effects of gender were not reported for how these types of screen addiction related to suicide outcomes and mental health. A gender effect otherwise exists showing that men are 2-4 times more likely to complete lethal suicide (women are more likely to attempt suicide than men).
This study also did not compare different age groups. Researchers mainly conducted this study among a group of American youth. However, other research finds differences in other factors between generations (e.g., level of anxiety).
There appears to be a few effective therapist resources to help with screen addiction. For social media addiction, research supports a specific multifaceted approach to therapy. This approach focuses on using CBT, mindfulness, psychoeducation about the pitfalls of social media addiction, and parenting strategies.
Many researchers assert that video game addiction is similar to gambling addiction. This may be due to strong positive reinforcement principles built into video games (as well as many smart phone apps). Evidence and therapy approaches point to a mix of gaming bans along with coping strategies from CBT, mindfulness, and even family or group therapy.
Emerging research does support what many suspect: negative effects of excessive screen time on youth mental health. However, there are specific nuances for screen addiction and how to effectively treat it. Research also shows that therapists can use specific methods and indeed help individuals struggling with screen time and gaming addictions.
