Adolescents who engage in leisure-based screen time for more than 3 hours per day have a 13% higher risk of experiencing psychological distress at age 17, according to new study results.

Published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, researchers found leisure-based screen time emerged as a significant factor linked to psychological distress. Notably, playing video games for over 3 hours per day was associated with a 12% higher risk. Reading for leisure for more than 3 hours daily raised the risk by 33%, with boys experiencing a significantly higher impact compared to girls. Girls, however, showed a stronger association between internet browsing and psychological distress.

Conversely, educational sedentary behaviors demonstrated a protective effect. Adolescents attending classes for more than 3 hours per day showed an 8% lower risk of psychological distress. Moderate homework durations of 1 to 2 hours per day were similarly beneficial.

Psychological distress was assessed using the six-item Kessler scale, measuring symptoms related to depressive and anxiety disorders. Adolescents reported feelings such as nervousness, hopelessness, restlessness, and worthlessness. On average, participants engaged in 2.7 hours of leisure-based screen time and 4 hours of educational sedentary behavior daily, noted André O. Werneck, M.Sc., from the Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Universidade de São Paulo.

The study’s methodology, including adjustments for gender, family income, body mass index, physical activity, and prior depressive symptoms, adds credibility to the insights.

"Future intervention studies should examine the effects on mental health of reducing leisure-based screen time among adolescents, and the mechanisms that underlie these associations," noted Werneck and colleagues.

Authors disclosure can be found in the published study.