Screen use and health in young people
Published: 9 December 2020
Dr Heather Cleland Woods, alongside Dr Holly Scott and Prof Stephany Biello, delve into how the motivations and behaviours around social media use is related to sleep quality and wellbeing in Scottish adolescents.
Dr Heather Cleland Woods contributed to this important briefing, drawing on her #sleepyteens research alongside Dr Holly Scott and Prof Stephany Biello on how the motivations and behaviours around social media use is related to sleep quality and wellbeing in Scottish adolescents.
The key points summarized in the report provide a more balanced view than has been seen previously.
- Smartphones, tablets and other devices with screens provide children/young people with opportunities (such as connecting with friends over social media) and risks (such as being exposed to harmful content).
- The evidence base on possible effects of screen use on health and development is still growing. Most published research has studied television use with less research on more modern devices (such as smartphones) or on multi-screen use. In addition, most research only looks at associations between screen use and health indicators without exploring the reasons for these associations.
- Some studies have reported associations between screen use and poorer physical health (such as short-sightedness, obesity and poor sleep). However, it is unknown if screen use causes such outcomes. Other studies indicate that screen use can increase or decrease wellbeing, depending on the type of activity being undertaken.
- Healthy screen use can be supported by guidance, technological solutions (such as parental controls) and education.
First published: 9 December 2020