from Journal of Adolescent Health
Extended screen time for children has
previously been linked to lower physical
fitness. But now there is evidence of
another type of harm. Researchers at the
University of California San Francisco
document a greater chance of developing
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).
Specifically, children who spend excessive
time playing video games report feeling the
need to play more and more and being
unable to stop, despite trying. The study
suggests watching videos, too, can
encourage compulsive viewing. Authors
acknowledge that screen time can have
important educational benefits, but too
much of a good thing may be bad. They
suggest families develop a media use plan
that regulates screen use by pre-teens. The
study is in the Journal of Adolescent Health.