Abstract
Teens use screens a lot. They play games, watch videos, and scroll social media. We wanted to find out if this affects their brains. We studied teens for five years. We looked at screen habits and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) behaviors. ADHD can make it hard to focus, sit still, or plan.
We found that teens who spent more than five hours a day on screens showed more ADHD behaviors. Social media seemed to have the biggest effect. It appeared to impact ADHD symptoms by interfering with a key brain process involved in “stopping behavior” that helps control impulses. These core symptoms of ADHD can lead to a variety of other problematic behaviours, such as trouble at school and substance abuse. So, it is important that young people are aware of how social media affects their thinking patterns. Balancing screen time with other activities is important to help keep the adolescent brain healthy.
The post What is the link between screen time and ADHD? appeared first on Science Journal for Kids and Teens.
