News Release

Is overall screen time associated with academic performance in kids, teens?

Peer-Reviewed Publication

JAMA Network

Bottom Line: Screen time overall wasn't associated with the academic performance of children and adolescents in this observational study. Called a systematic review and meta-analysis, this research consisted of a review of 58 studies from 23 countries (involving 480,000 participants ages 4 to 18) and a meta-analysis that combined the results of 30 of those studies involving 106,000 participants. The studies examined time or frequency for computer, internet, mobile phone, television, video game and overall screen media use and academic performance including composite scores, language and mathematics. While authors report the amount of time spent overall on screens wasn't associated with academic performance, the more time spent watching television and playing video games was associated with poorer academic performance. Previous research has produced conflicting findings about the association between screen media use and academic performance. A limitation of this research is that causal inferences can't be made. The findings of this current report suggest education and public health professionals should consider supervision and reduced time spent on screens.

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Authors: Mireia Adelantado-Renau, M.Sc., University Jaume I, Castellon, Spain, and coauthors

(doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.3176)

Editor's Note: The article contains funding/support disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

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Media advisory: To contact corresponding author Mireia Adelantado-Renau, M.Sc., email adelantm@uji.es. The full study and editorial are linked to this news release.

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