Limiting screen time and promoting physical activity can help ensure children’s mental health

A recent Finnish study indicates that limiting screen time and promoting childhood physical activity can help ensure mental health in adolescence. The findings are particularly important, as mental health problems affect up to 30% of young people and are a growing social challenge.

The study, conducted by the School of Sports and Health Sciences at Jyväskylä University and the Biomedical Institute at the University of East Finland, followed 187 adolescents for eight years. Researchers found that children who spent more time on screens – especially for mobile devices – were more likely to experience higher levels of stress and depressive symptoms in adolescence.

On the contrary, higher levels of physical activity and participation in organized sports were associated with lower stress and fewer symptoms of depression. However, the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms was weaker than that of screen time and depressive symptoms. Teenagers with both high -screen and low physical activity had the highest levels of stress and depressive symptoms.

Several international recommendations based on evidence show that the recreation time of children and adolescents should be limited to two hours a day.

Personally, I think that even this number is high, as it is equivalent to almost a month of screen per year. ”

EERO HAAPALA, Higher Lecturer from the School of Sports and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä University

Balancing physical activity and screen time

These findings emphasize the need to promote healthy lifestyle habits early in life. The encouragement of children to participate in physical activity and to set reasonable limits on the screen could play a decisive role in the prevention of mental health challenges later in life.

“The modern sedentary lifestyle, with high exposure to the screen, causes the mental health of children and adolescents,” says Dr. Eero Haapala.

“Recent discussions have rightly focused on screen time and social media, but I hope that our findings encourage adults in young people’s lives to promote a wide range of healthy habits – especially by balancing screening time and physical activity.”

“Achieving change requires cooperation,” Haapala points out.

“Society as a whole – from families to policy -makers – must invest in promoting a healthy lifestyle for children and adolescents ensuring a balanced screen, adequate physical activity, adequate sleep and nutritional nutrition.”

The panic study is part of the research community of metabolic diseases at the University of East Finland. The research community is dedicated to investigating important cardiomatomasal diseases. By utilizing genetics, genomic, translation research and lifestyle interventions, the community aims to provide powerful data on disease mechanisms and promote early diagnosis, prevention and personalized treatment. The research community consists of 20 research groups, covering basic research in patient care.