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18.4: Technology and Media during Adolescence

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    228464
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    Increasing evidence shows that electronic media use (EMU) is associated with adolescents' development and mental health (1). Adolescence is a critical transitional stage in physical, behavioral, and psychosocial development. Brain regions involved in extensive developmental transformation during adolescence are particularly impacted by EMU (2). Meta-analyses reported the association of excessive EMU with depressive symptoms and psychological distress in adolescents (3, 4). Excessive EMU (such as computer use, talking on the phone, and television viewing) may affect the holistic personal development of adolescents as it would replace other physical, social, and family activities. International public health guidelines have recommended that children should have no more than 2 h of EMU daily. When investigating the EMU behavior in adolescents, it is found that only one-third of adolescents worldwide have been able to adhere to the 2 h guideline suggestion (5, 6). Ostensibly, adolescents with excessive EMU are vulnerable to social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties (SEBD).

    In this article authors further examine the relation of the timing of EMU to outcomes. Disruption of the circadian cycle as a result of the exposure to white light, the arousal resultant from late night gaming, and the togetherness engendered by family watching TV at night differentially affect SEBD outcomes in adolescence.

    References:

    Li, T. M., Chan, N. Y., Li, C. T., Chen, J., Chan, J. W., Liu, Y., ... & Wing, Y. K. (2022). The associations of electronic media use with sleep and circadian problems, social, emotional and behavioral difficulties in adolescents. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 892583.

    Attributions:

    Original content by Bhadha, 2023 licensed CC-BY 4.0


    18.4: Technology and Media during Adolescence is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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