ArticleFrontiers in medicine2026
Digital media use and cognitive networks in medical students: linking screen time with intelligence and academic performance.
Article in Frontiers in medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- The association between adolescents' recreational screen exposure and academic performance and its mediating mechanisms.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
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Abstract
Introduction: Digital media use has expanded rapidly among medical students, raising concerns about its impact on cognitive function and academic achievement. However, specific links between screen time and distinct facets of cognition (such as fluid vs. crystallized intelligence), as well as their combined impact on academic performance, remain underexplored in medical education. Purpose: This study explored how digital screen time and related behaviors are associated with different dimensions of intelligence (fluid and crystallized), attention, and academic performance in second-year medical students, using a network analysis approach. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 305 second year medical students from the Faculty of Medicine, UNAM, recruited during the 2023 academic year, completed standardized assessments: the Shipley-2 test for crystallized (Gc) and fluid intelligence (Gf), the Youth Screen Time Survey, and official academic records (standardized Physiology course exam scores). Network analysis was implemented through the Results: The network analysis identified six clusters of interrelated variables, revealing distinct groupings linking digital behavior, cognitive abilities, and academic outcomes. Key variables with the highest connectivity (centrality) were the number of failed courses, total screen time, and age, indicating these factors are most influential in the network. Notably, text messaging and short-form video use (e.g., TikTok) emerged as Discussion: Excessive digital exposure was associated with weaker cognitive efficiency and academic performance in this cross-sectional sample. These findings underscore the need for balanced digital habits to support attention, learning, and problem-solving capacity in medical students.
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