Johan Simbade
A Review of the Sedentary Children’s Culture by Dr. Lauren Gerspach
As we become more involved with computers and mobile devices, we have to think more about screens. Our work may require us to be sitting at a desk watching a computer monitor for hours on end, or we may be playing video games while we are commuting to and from our job. While we may not think much about the aesthetics of screens, we know that they affect our health. In particular, they all seem to be studying both the possible benefits of screens and the possible potential downsides and the possible advantages of various kinds of activities which involve screens. Meanwhile, many important questions still remain about the impact of various kinds of activities and on the health and the welfare of people who use monitors on a regular basis.
One of the most commonly asked questions is whether or not watching TVs, playing computer games or using mobile devices on the side affects the mental health of kids. The short answer is that yes it does. A lot of studies have been done over the years by organizations like the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to determine the impact of screen time on children’s mental health. In one of these studies, kids who spent more time on screens without their parents reported higher levels of mental disorder symptoms, even when their parents’ mental health were similar to their own. For example, girls who spent more time on computers and boys who spent more time on mobile devices had higher incidence of suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts to get physically ill.
Similarly, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center compared young adults (n = 401), who were not currently using mobile devices, with older adults (n = 500) who were on cell phones or other similar devices. The participants of the test were asked a series of questions about their current state of mind and a variety of psychological assessments. What they found was that when comparing the two groups, significant differences between how the adults felt regarding their mental health were evident when comparing the two groups. These results imply that the act of having a screen placed in front of them can have a negative impact on how they feel about themselves.
This is not to say that screens will necessarily lead to unhealthy outcomes for kids. However, there are several longitudinal studies that show a link between screen time and poor child development. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that there was a correlation between children who played mobile games and lower IQRs, as well as poorer verbal skills. Other studies have linked screen time to increased all-round activity. Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that there were a decrease in reading skills and a decrease in the number of reading scores for kids who frequently used electronic gadgets.
The good news is that it doesn’t take much to undo the damage that screen media has on your young children. The bad news is that most parents do not even recognize this problem until it is way too late. Screen time, especially for younger children, should not be encouraged. Parents need to take a proactive stance about it in order to protect their kids from early childhood development problems. With so many screens available, most parents don’t even know that there are even potential concerns.
If you are a parent and are looking for a review of the latest in the fight against sedentary entertainment, then you should read the Sedentary Children’s Culture: The Harm of TV and Computer Gaming by Dr Lauren Gerspach. This comprehensive review of current practices regarding screen time for adolescents reveals a disturbing trend of misinformation and inappropriate influences. With Dr Gerspach’s help, you can uncover the dangerous consequences of sitting in front of a computer for hours on end.
