Heavy Screen Use and Problematic Behaviors Feed Into Each Other, Study Finds

Children often turn to screens as a coping mechanism for anxiety, depression, and social difficulties.

Miljan Zivkovic/Shutterstock

Spending too much time on screens may be both a cause of harm and a symptom of an underlying problem. A new study of more than 300,000 children worldwide found that excessive device use is often an attempt by struggling children to cope with anxiety, depression, and social difficulties they can’t yet articulate.

“It’s like comfort eating, but with devices,” Michael Noetel, associate professor of psychology at the University of Queensland and coauthor, told The Epoch Times.

The cycle worsens over time.

A Vicious Cycle

Unlike previous research that offered only snapshots, the new research, published in Psychological Bulletin, analyzed 117 longitudinal studies.

The study tracked children aged 10 and under over time, and found that screen time led to socio-emotional problems and socio-emotional problems in turn led to increased screen time.

The socio-emotional behaviors included outward expressions of aggression and hyperactivity, or internal struggles such as anxiety and depression.

High screen use crowds out key protective behaviors such as sleep, exercise, and face-to-face interaction, activities that help children learn to regulate emotions, build social skills, and reduce the risk of mental problems, Roberta Pires Vasconcellos, coauthor and lecturer at the University of New South Wales, told The Epoch Times.

Children who are already struggling may escape into screens, which can further perpetuate the problem, potentially leading to issues like depression and anxiety.

Tom Kersting, a licensed psychotherapist, family counselor, and author of “Raising Healthy Teenagers,” told The Epoch Times that he’s seen a rise in aggression and oppositional defiant behavior among children in recent years. He noted that many of the apps and games kids use are “designed to target the pleasure-seeking part of the brain that produces dopamine,” a feel-good chemical linked to all forms of addiction.

“Ultimately, kids are walking around with a never-ending IV drip of dopamine from their devices. When the device is removed, they crash and withdraw, which often manifests as anger and aggression,” Kersting said.

The findings also affirmed that current screen time recommendations helped. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages screen use for children 2 and under and recommends limiting screen use to an hour per day for children ages 2 to 5. Kids who stayed within the limits generally fared better, while those who exceeded them saw risks increase.

“It wasn’t a cliff edge,” Noetel said. “A child watching three hours instead of two isn’t doomed. But the more they reviewed the guidelines, the worse the outcomes got.”

The strongest adverse effects were among children using screens for four or more hours a day.

The harm may not appear right away, but tends to build up.

“Like sugar or sun exposure, a little is fine,” he added. “But too much causes damage that builds up over time.”

Why Some Kids Are More Vulnerable

Girls were generally more susceptible to developing emotional problems from excessive screen use, while boys were more likely to increase their device use when faced with socio-emotional challenges.

Older children showed stronger adverse effects, partly because of less supervision and access to more mature content.

“A 5-year-old might get 60 [percent] supervised screen time, but 8-year-olds often use screens alone,” Noetel said.

When children are 4 years old, their behavior is often viewed with more leniency. Tantrums or short attention spans may be seen as typical developmental stages that parents or caregivers are more likely to overlook, understanding that the child is still learning self-regulation. Later, however, the environment becomes more structured. Teachers have higher expectations for self-control and social interaction.

Type of Use

Gaming posed the highest risks, especially online multiplayer games.

“Kids who game are much more likely to develop problems than kids using screens for other things,” Noetel said. “And kids who are struggling emotionally are also more likely to turn to games.”

Younger children are still developing emotional regulation and time management skills, and may be unable to resist the addictive nature of these games.

Vasconcellos also noted that games can appeal directly to the psychological needs of emotionally vulnerable kids, saying they may be “drawn to video games because they offer a sense of belonging or competence they’re not finding elsewhere.”

The Context of Screen Use

How screens are used matters as much as how much they’re used.

“Playing or watching together makes a big difference. It’s like the difference between eating dinner alone versus with family. Same food, different experience,” Noetel said.

When parents are present, they can help kids process what they see and model healthy behaviors. Vasconcellos emphasized that these shared moments can also become bonding opportunities—and a way to teach emotional regulation, critical thinking, and how to manage online dynamics.

“Most importantly, it turns screen time into a shared, supportive experience, rather than something children turn to alone—especially when they’re feeling emotionally vulnerable,” she said.

Warning Signs

“If your child is drifting toward more and more screen time, check if they’re OK emotionally. Heavy screen use might be their way of saying ‘I’m struggling,’” Noetel said.

Some behaviors—such as trouble sitting still or fighting with siblings—are easy to spot. But he advised parents to also watch for subtler warning signs, such as anxiety or feelings of inadequacy.

“These quieter problems can be just as worrying,” he said.

Especially note when screens have shifted from entertainment to avoidance, including skipping sports practice to game, or watching YouTube instead of attending social events.

If a child is using screens to cope, cutting back might not work—and could even backfire as it doesn’t address the root problem.

“It’s like treating a fever without identifying the infection behind it,” Vasconcellos said. “If a child loses their coping tool but doesn’t receive emotional support in its place, they may feel even more lost or overwhelmed. This can actually worsen symptoms like anxiety, hyperactivity, or low self-esteem.”

She added that when children escape to screens, most often than not, what they need the most is emotional support. It requires parents to help children identify and process their feelings, understand their emotions, and guide them toward healthier coping strategies.

Strategies can be as simple as sitting with their emotions, taking deep breaths, or exercising.

Screen Time Best Practices

Simply limiting screen time isn’t enough, authors say.

“Current guidelines are like telling parents ‘limit food’ without explaining chips are different from carrots,” Noetel said.

Vasconcellos said that “policy should emphasize the importance of content quality and the social environment surrounding screen use.”

Noetel recommends a more nuanced framework:

• Green light: Educational shows or co-viewing with parents
• Yellow light: General TV or movies
• Red light: Gaming and social media

Green light includes screen time that children “could almost have unlimited access to, like FaceTime with grandma and use of apps that directly teach phonics,” he said. Yellow light includes those you want to limit but are OK to have some of each day.

Noetel likens red light screen use to treats—“stuff you might only provide once or twice a week, or on special occasions.” For kids under 10, video games should be like the ice cream of screen time—fine once in a while, but not every night.

Parents should prioritize high-quality content that supports healthy development. Some examples Vasconcellos gave of high-quality content that supports development include educational shows that demonstrate to children how to emotionally regulate, apps that reward teamwork and strategy, and creative apps like those that allow you to draw or make music.

Still, digital interaction isn’t a substitute for real-world connection, she said. Offline relationships remain essential.

“Social and emotional skills aren’t inherent—they’re developed,” Kersting said, emphasizing that children build these skills through real-world interactions. “A child’s natural habitat is the playground—being outside with other kids, having the ball taken away. That’s how they learn to handle adversity and build emotional intelligence.”

The goal isn’t to eliminate screens but to use them intentionally while ensuring children have the emotional support and real-world experiences they need to thrive.