Vol. 35 No. 1 (2020): Special Issue on Technology and Teacher Education
Special Issue

Screen Time and Youth Health Issues: A Literature Review

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  • Luis Santos,
  • Richard Reeve
Luis Santos
Toronto District School Board
Bio
Richard Reeve
Queen's University
Bio

Published 2020-10-30

How to Cite

Santos, L., & Reeve, R. (2020). Screen Time and Youth Health Issues: A Literature Review. International Journal of E-Learning & Distance Education Revue Internationale Du E-Learning Et La Formation à Distance, 35(1). Retrieved from https://ijede.ca/index.php/jde/article/view/1163
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Abstract

Abstract

This literature review was undertaken in 2019 with the goal of examining the health effects of screen time exposure on school-aged youth. With the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, and the subsequent requirement for many students to learn online, concerns about youth exposure to screens only became more pronounced. Now, more than ever, it is vital that educators—both new and old—consider the effects of screen time exposure. Three databases were accessed for the literature review including EBSCO Education Source, APA (American Psychological Association) PsycNet, and Ovid MEDLINE. The final set of 22 studies were compiled using systematic searches conducted in January 2019 using search terms associated with screen time use among adolescents. The categories of effects that emerged were: (a) physical, (b) behavioural, and (c) psychological. While some of the results of these studies demonstrate small but significant negative correlations between screen time exposure and health effects, and are potentially helpful in understanding screen time associations with the identified factors, in their conclusions authors point out that it is difficult to establish causal connections. Discussion of the results focuses on the potential that familial influences may have in terms of supporting youth in establishing positive screen time behaviours.

Keywords: screen time; well-being; technology; social media; cell phone; digital citizenship
 
Résumé

Cette revue de la littérature a été entreprise en 2019 dans le but d'examiner les effets sur la santé de l'exposition à l'écran sur les jeunes d'âge scolaire. Avec l'épidémie de COVID-19 au début de 2020 et l'obligation subséquente pour de nombreux étudiants d'apprendre en ligne, les préoccupations concernant l'exposition des jeunes aux écrans ne font que devenir plus prononcées. Aujourd'hui plus que jamais, il est essentiel que les éducateurs, qu'ils soient nouveaux ou anciens, tiennent compte des effets de l'exposition à l'écran. Trois bases de données ont été consultées pour la revue de la littérature, notamment EBSCO Education Source, APA (American Psychological Association) PsycNet, et Ovid MEDLINE. L'ensemble final de 22 études a été compilé à l'aide de recherches systématiques menées en janvier 2019 à l'aide de termes de recherche associés à l'utilisation du temps d'écran chez les adolescents. Les catégories d'effets qui ont émergé étaient: (a) physiques; (b) comportemental; et (c) psychologique. Bien que certains des résultats de ces études démontrent des corrélations négatives faibles mais significatives entre l'exposition au temps d'écran et les effets sur la santé, et sont potentiellement utiles pour comprendre les associations du temps d'écran avec les facteurs identifiés, dans leurs conclusions, les auteurs soulignent qu'il est difficile d'établir des liens de causalité. La discussion des résultats se concentre sur le potentiel que les influences familiales peuvent avoir pour ce qui est d'aider les jeunes à adopter des comportements positifs à l'écran. 

Mots-clés: temps d'écran; bien-être; technologie; médias sociaux; téléphone mobile; citoyenneté numérique 

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