Excessive Screen Time Harms Academic Performance and Well-being in 8-12 Year Olds

In this study, we examined the impact of excessive screen time on 8 to 12-year-old children over a period of one year. We monitored a sample of 40 children from four primary schools in Hong Kong for 12 months. The findings of our study clearly demonstrate that spending too much time in front of screens, such as smartphones, computers, and iPads, has a detrimental effect on two key aspects of children's academic performance: their ability to focus on static print material and their problem-solving skills in challenging mathematics tasks. This indicates a negative correlation between the number of hours spent on screen time and children's academic abilities.

Additionally, we observed higher levels of fatigue and forgetfulness among these children, which negatively impacted their overall physical well-being. Furthermore, children who spent three or more hours per day on screens were more prone to experiencing bouts of anger and frustration. They were also less likely to actively participate in group work and engage socially with their peers.

Collectively, our findings highlight the negative impact of excessive screen time on children's physical and emotional well-being, as well as their academic performance, including their ability to complete homework tasks effectively.