Preteens who spend more time on screens are more likely to develop manic symptoms two-years later, according to a new study. — Photography SeventyFour/Getty Images/AFP Relaxnews
A recent study of preteens in the USA has found a significant link between excessive screen time and the onset of manic symptoms. Unsurprisingly, social media, video games and texting were singled out in particular.
Too much screen time can be bad for health. While video games can improve certain cognitive abilities, or even help reduce stress, excessive use could promote manic symptoms in younger children. Such is the finding of a North American study published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.
According to health professionals, manic symptoms are characterized by excessive energy, mood swings from one extreme to the other, and the disruption of mental functions and/or sleep needs: "Manic symptoms include inflated self-esteem or grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, flight of ideas, distractibility, increased goal-directed activity, and excessive involvement in pleasurable activities," the researchers explain in their paper.
The scientists looked at the screen habits of 9,243 preteens aged 10 to 11, between 2017 and 2019. The results were unequivocal: preteens who had more daily screen time at the start of the study were more likely to develop manic symptoms two years later.
The researchers identified the types of screen use most implicated in this phenomenon. While videos and video games were associated with an increase in manic symptoms, it was texting and social media that seemed to play the most worrying role. Prolonged exposure to these platforms is thought to promote cognitive and emotional hyperstimulation, making adolescents more vulnerable to mood disorders.
Two key mechanisms explain this correlation. Firstly, the inability to regulate screen use, which can lead to true screen addictions. Secondly, reduced sleep time, often caused by nocturnal use of social networks and video games.
"Excessive gaming habits and social media use frequently coincide with irregular sleep patterns or sleep deprivation, factors known to exacerbate symptoms of mania," the researchers write.
If social networks are so stimulating, it's mainly due to the reward system (with likes, comments, etc.), which boosts dopamine levels in users and encourages them to compulsively over-use screens. "Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by profound physical, emotional, and cognitive maturation," the study reads.
In light of these findings, the researchers warn of the need to regulate screen use among the very young. They call for an educational approach, with the introduction of courses on digital uses from elementary school onwards, to encourage a reduction in screen time. The need to set a time limit for social networking, video games and other digital activities could help reduce the risk of mental disorders in younger children.
It's important to stress, however, that this study does not prove a direct causal link between screen time and manic symptoms. It is possible that children predisposed to mania naturally spend more time on screens. What's more, the data on screen time was self-reported, which may introduce bias, the researchers point out. – AFP Relaxnews
