BY HUMAIRA HASAN

INTRODUCTION

With the rapidly growing technology, would one conclude that screen time has a role to play in amplifying the severity of ADHD?

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder which is a psychiatric condition that tends to impact individuals in various aspects of their lives ranging from interpersonal relationships to professional achievements. (American Psychiatric Association, n.d.) The global prevalence of ADHD in children and adolescents is estimated to be 8.0%. The rate is significantly higher in boys, at 10%, compared to 5% in girls. Among the three subtypes of ADHD, the inattentive type (ADHD-I) is the most common, followed by the hyperactive type (ADHD-HI) and the combined type (ADHD-C). (Danielson et al., 2024) 

According to the DSM-5, the symptoms of ADHD can manifest themselves in various forms some of them being reluctance to engage in tasks, requiring sustained mental effort, easily distracted, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. When left untreated, ADHD can gradually diminish long-term self-esteem and impair social functioning. (Harpin et al., 2013)

Screen time refers to the time an individual spends on electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, televisions, laptops, video game consoles, etc. (MedlinePlus, n.d.) There are numerous negative effects that screen time has on an individual’s well-being with some of them including but not just pertaining to ADHD patterns associated with poor sleep patterns, structural changes in the brain that affect cognitive control and emotional regulation, depressive symptoms, etc. (Lissak, 2018)

SCREEN TIME & ADHD

The advancing field of technology is undoubtedly a boon yet uncontrolled and excessive screen time have detrimental effects not just pertaining to short-term but extending to long-term effects as well. Earlier long-term studies have found strong links between screen time and increased ADHD symptoms. Since ADHD risk is linked to both genetic and environmental factors, identifying possible environmental causes of ADHD changes could help create better treatments and public health plans to support youth mental health. (Larsson, Larsson, & Lichtenstein, 2004) Additionally, evening screen time is linked to greater sleep disruption, which is also connected to behavioral issues.(Casale et al., 2023)

IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ADHD

Research shows that higher problematic social media use and anxiety are linked to ADHD, with anxiety partly explaining the connection between social media use and ADHD. (Statista, 2024) For instance, constant phone notifications, ongoing app updates, and large social media interactions can lead vulnerable individuals to use social networks excessively and compulsively. There are various social media platforms that are easily accessible namely Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc. These platforms offer quick and easy access to exciting content like music, videos, movies, and other fast-response interactions. As users become used to this instant feedback, they may lose patience and have trouble controlling impulses, which can lead to ADHD-like symptoms. (Anderson & Anderson, 2024)

Problematic Digital Media Use may be defined as the act of unregulated and uncontrolled use of social media which is often associated with negative consequences in everyday functioning. (Casale et al., 2023) Children with ADHD who also had problematic digital media use (PDMU) experienced more severe core symptoms, negative emotions, and difficulties with executive function. They also faced more family stress, life pressures, and lower motivation to learn. The PDMU group showed significantly worse symptoms of inattention, oppositional behavior, emotional issues, and reported higher levels of anxiety and depression. (Shuai et al., 2021) 

NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF SCREEN TIME ON INDIVIDUALS WITH ADHD

Sleep Disorder

Sleep is essential for regulating circadian rhythms which is influenced by the production of melatonin, a hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland. (Figueiro & Overington, 2015) Children with ADHD may have disrupted circadian rhythms due to impaired melatonin secretion. (Takahashi et al., 2024) In a longitudinal study, it was seen that over time, screen time and sleep were not linked to ADHD. However, in the short term, for every extra hour spent watching TV, there was an increase in scores for external behavior problems, and scores also rose for each hour of less sleep. (Levelink et al., 2020)

Attention and Focus Issues

In a study focused on preschoolers, it was found that exceeding two hours of screen time at age five was linked to a higher risk of significant behavior issues, particularly inattention problems. (Tamana et al., 2019) The earlier and the more children are exposed to screens, the higher the risk of developing hyperactive behaviors. (Wu et al., 2022)

Emotional and Behavioral Problems

A meta-analysis found a weak but notable link between screen time and children’s internalizing and externalizing behaviors, such as aggression or ADHD symptoms. (Eirich et al., 2022) Another study found that excessive screen time was related to behavior problems, conduct issues, delays in development, speech disorders, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It also showed that the more screen time children had, the greater these problems became. (Qu et al., 2023)
Research also shows how impulsivity plays a significant role in connecting screen time with symptoms of ADHD, especially regarding social media use. This indicates that the effects of screen exposure can have lasting influences on children’s behavior. (Wallace et al., 2023) There is also a link between emotion regulation skills and screen time showing how excessive screen time is connected to emotional instability during early childhood. (Oflu et al., 2021)

INTERVENTION

In a population-based study, higher screen time for mothers when their child was three years old was linked to a greater likelihood of ADHD in the children. However, the children’s own screen time did not show a similar connection to ADHD suggesting that it was the mother’s screen time, as the main caregiver, that had an impact, rather than the child’s screen time. (Shih et al., 2023) This highlights the need for parental mediation. Parental intervention is essential for reducing the negative effect of screen time on children with ADHD by setting limits on screen use or monitoring activities.

CONCLUSION

With the rising prevalence of ADHD, it is important to pay attention to factors that might contribute to the severity of ADHD. Evidences suggest that screen time has its involvement in increasing the symptoms of ADHD or worsening them. The negative consequences of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder include sleep disorders, behavioral and emotional issues, attention and focus issues, etc. The gaps in research involving parental mediation yet not just pertaining to it, call for the need for awareness among parents in order to prevent the worsening of ADHD symptoms through intervention.

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