A review spanning 2.8 million children in 64 countries finds heavier digital media exposure is associated with poorer academic performance, language development and emotional wellbeing.
A major review published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that heavier screen use may affect children’s academic performance, language development and mental health in ways that are comparable with some of the best-known influences on child development. The umbrella review, led by researchers at the University of Calgary, combined evidence from 23 meta-analyses and drew on data covering more than 2.8 million children in 64 countries.
According to the study, greater exposure to digital media was linked with lower overall academic achievement and weaker language development. The researchers also found associations with emotional difficulties, problems with peers, and both internalising behaviour, such as anxiety and depression symptoms, and externalising behaviour, including aggression and attention-deficit hyperactivity symptoms. They described the size of these effects as similar to, or larger than, those tied to socioeconomic status, parenting behaviour and pre-term birth.
The findings did not show the same clear relationship between screen time and attainment in maths, reading or science, although the authors said those subjects had been studied less often than overall school performance. They also reported no clear association with some other developmental areas, including executive functioning and pro-social behaviour, suggesting that the impact of screen exposure is uneven rather than universal.
The new review fits into a wider body of JAMA Pediatrics research pointing to risks from excessive screen use. Earlier systematic reviews in the journal linked higher screen exposure with poorer language skills and broader negative effects on cognitive and socioemotional development. Taken together, the studies add to the case for treating screen habits as one potentially changeable factor in children’s wellbeing, while also underlining that the quality and context of screen use still matter.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
