Adolescents who spend a lot of time glued to screens may experience brain changes that impact their mental health, according to a new study. The study included nearly 5,200 kids who underwent brain MRIs when they were 9 to 10 years old, and then again 2 years later. The children reported on their screen use, while their parents filled out questionnaires that assessed their psychological well-being.
Dr. Mark Potenza from the Yale School of Medicine says higher frequency screen use at baseline was related to greater mental health concerns over time. "These mental health concerns, or internalizing concerns, are those related to anxiety and depression, while externalizing concerns are linked to conduct and aggressive behaviors."
Follow-up scans when the participants were 11 to 12 years old also showed small but significant brain changes in participants with greater screen time. "This involves both cortical brain regions, which are involved in higher-level processes like attention or emotional regulation, as well as subcortical brain processes, which are involved in different functions."
The researchers say these structural variations were associated with increased depression and anxiety. Dr. Potenza stresses that while this study is important, it is just one step in understanding the impact of screen activity on growing children. "He hopes that through this and other studies, an improved understanding can lead to more refined guidelines to help parents and youth navigate the complex digital technology environment."
Concerned parents can find suggested guidelines at healthychildren.org or the website Internet & Me.
