How Does Screen Time Affect Mental Health Among Children?

Abstract

As technology continues to play an increasingly dominant role in modern society, it is important to know and understand the potential disadvantages and concerns associated with the excessive utilization of electronic devices. In particular, analyzing the impacts of digital media on younger generations is essential for fostering a more informed and conscious society. Investigating this issue allows researchers, educators, and policymakers to identify the limitations of technology dependency and its implications on child development. A valuable way to further explore the impacts of technology is through the research question “how does screen time affect mental health among children?” To address this question, data collected by Center of Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System can be utilized by specifically focusing on the relationships between screen time and content type of young children and their chances of being diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The methodology to do so is to analyze the contents of the data set using Python and create graphs, as well as finding the p value (to signify statistical correlation) in order to visualize and interpret the data sets. Based on this analysis, the findings suggest that there is a statistically significant relationship between the use of electronic devices among children aged 4 to 7 and an increased likelihood of being diagnosed with ADHD. These results highlight the importance of monitoring screen time during early developmental years and underscore the need for further research and public awareness regarding the mental health impacts of technology on children.