Peer-reviewed article
Bidirectional associations between screen time and children’s externalizing and internalizing behaviors
Ross D. Neville, Brae Anne McArthur, Rachel Eirich, Kimberley D. Lakes, Sheri L. Madigan ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined whether screen time causes behavioral problems in children or whether children with behavioral problems get more screen time. Using data from over 10,000 Irish children tracked from ages 3 to 9, researchers found bidirectional associations: children with behavioral problems at age 3 received more screen time by age 5, and more screen time at ages 3 and 5 was linked to increased emotional difficulties at later ages. The patterns changed over time, with screen time at age 7 associated with fewer emotional problems by age 9.
Key points
- Children with greater externalizing and internalizing behaviors at age 3 had increased screen time at age 5
- Greater screen time at ages 3 and 5 was associated with increased internalizing behaviors at ages 5 and 7
- More screen time at age 7 was associated with fewer internalizing behaviors at age 9
- Screen time was not associated with later externalizing behaviors
- Both screen time and behavioral difficulties showed trait-like differences between children that persisted over time
Limitations
The study relied on caregiver reports of both screen time and behavior, which may be subject to recall bias or social desirability bias. The findings are specific to an Irish cohort and may not generalize to other populations or cultural contexts regarding media use patterns.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: While it has been purported that excessive screen time can lead to behavioral problems, it has also been suggested that children with behavioral dysregulation receive more access to screens to manage problematic behavior. In this study, both temporally stable and longitudinal associations between screen time and externalizing and internalizing behaviors across childhood are examined to directly address this issue of directionality. METHODS: Data are from a prospective cohort of 10,172 Irish children, collected between 2010 and 2018 when children were ages 3, 5, 7, and 9. Children's screen time (hours/day) and externalizing and internalizing behaviors (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) were assessed via caregiver report. Random-intercepts cross-lagged panel models were used to estimate longitudinal bidirectional associations while controlling for temporally stable (i.e., 'time-invariant' or 'trait-like') differences between children. RESULTS: Temporally stable differences between children were observed for both screen time and behavior problems. Longitudinal trajectories for screen time lacked stability; however, and externalizing and internalizing behaviors stabilized increasingly during later childhood. Greater externalizing and internalizing behaviors at age 3 were directionally associated with increased screen time at age 5. Greater screen time at ages 3 and 5 was directionally associated with increased internalizing behaviors at ages 5 and 7, respectively. More screen time at age 7 was directionally associated with fewer internalizing behaviors at age 9. Screen time was not associated with later externalizing behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Bidirectional associations between screen time and internalizing behaviors were observed for preschoolers. Directional associations between screen time and internalizing difficulties were observed across childhood. These findings can inform screen use guidelines and family media planning at different ages and stages of development.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Screen time exposure (measured in hours per day)
- Population
- 10,172 Irish children assessed at ages 3, 5, 7, and 9 years
Key finding
Greater externalizing and internalizing behaviors at age 3 were directionally associated with increased screen time at age 5
Neville et al. · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · 4 May 2021