Screen time in preschool-aged children and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-related behaviors: A literature review.

In this digital era, excessive screen usage has been reported to worsen the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. However, this connection is found to be bidirectional, with both phenomena impacting each other. The current literature review will summarize some research findings on the correlation between screen time and ADHD-related behaviors. Studies have found that the inattentional and hyperactive/impulsive behaviors of ADHD are positively correlated with screen time. One study showed statistically significant longitudinal correlations between screen time at age three and inattention behaviors and hyperactivity/impulsivity behaviors at age four, but no concurrent association between screen time and either of these behaviors or scores at age three. Crucially, screen usage beyond the two-hours mark was linked to a higher risk of externalizing morbidity that is clinically significant, particularly inattention issues. Meanwhile, screen usage can exacerbate the symptoms of ADHD in children, including aggression, negative emotions, and pressure from life events, according to a summary of pertinent studies.