Something is changing in youth mental health. Anxiety, stress and depressive symptoms are once considered to be a small fractional struggle. Social expectations, academic pressure and screens time increase all contribute to this growing interest.
But is the technology a major culprit? That is the researcher’s question Jyväskylä University and Eastern University in Finland Start the answer.
Long -term research, which tracks 187 teenagers for eight years, provides amazing insights. Lifestyle selection, especially physical activity and screen time, appears as an important player in forming mental health.
Heavy tolls of screen time
The more time you spend more time on the screen, the worse the mental health results. But not all screens affect the same. The use of mobile devices is more stressful and prominent as the largest culprit associated with depression.
Dr. Eero Haapala is a senior lecturer at the Department of Sports and Health Science at Jyväskylä University.
“According to the recommendation of various international evidence, leisure screen time for children and adolescents should be limited to two hours a day. Personally, I think even this figure is a screens of almost a month, ”Dr. Haapala said.
The screen is just a tool. However, long -term exposure can erose sleep quality, reduce meaningful social interactions, and expose young people to harass online content. result? More stress, more anxiety, and more feelings are trapped in a digital loop.
Movement as a buffer for stress
Not all discoveries are desolate. The study also discovered a powerful antidote movement. More physical activity, especially young people who participated in the supervisory exercise, had low stress and depressive symptoms.
Participation in sports, in particular, seemed to provide buffer for mental health struggles due to structured environments and internal social support.
Dr. Haapala said, “The higher the screen exposure, the more modern sedentary lifestyle is the mental health of children and adolescents.
“The recent discussions have focused on screen time and social media, but we hope that our research results will encourage young adults to promote broad health habits, especially with the balance of screen time and physical activity.”
Main takeout? Physical activity is helpful but not a treatment. If the screen time is overly maintained, it is also risk of active youth. The worst results are in those with high screen time and low physical activity -a double problem of mental health.
How about sleep and diet?
Researchers also investigated the effects of sleep overeating.
Unlike screen time and physical activity, these factors were weakly related to mental health results. Participants in the research may generally have appropriate sleep and relatively healthy diets, making it more difficult to detect influence.
Dr. Haapala said, “We need cooperation to achieve change. “From family -family to policymakers -guarantees a balanced screen time, sufficient physical activity, appropriate sleep and nutritious diets, so you should invest in healthy lifestyles for children and adolescents.”
In this specific study, diet and sleep did not play a strong role, but previous studies suggest that they are important. Poor sleep patterns and healthy diets are associated with anxiety, irritability and concentration. Nevertheless, the dominant player in this study was screen time and physical activity.
The mobile screen is the worst criminal
One of the most prominent revelations of this study? Mobile devices have a negative impact on mental health than other types of screen time.
Unlike television, a passive experience, mobile devices require continuous interaction. Social media, games, or endless scrolls create a difficult period to break. More participation often means more stress, and the pressure to maintain a connection can have a big impact on self -esteem and emotional welfare.
In particular, social media amplifies these effects. Teens are not consumption of content, but comparison, cue and response. Maintaining an online position, exercising influence, or a pressure with colleagues can change harmless scrolls into a breeding ground for self -doubt.
Reducing the use of mobile devices may be one of the most effective ways to reduce youth stress levels.
Break the screen time
One of the most powerful messages of research? Early intervention is the key.
The habit of children forming in elementary school often adheres to adolescence. If children have little encouragement to unlimited screen time and physical activity, they are likely to convey these patterns in their teens when stress and depression are actually risk.
It can be helpful to encourage structured sports, outdoor play and clear screen time limitations. It is not to remove the screen, but to create a balanced relationship with the screen. Programs that integrate both movement and responsible technology can be the most effective way.
Everyday choice and long -term health
This study is part of the PANIC study and examines how lifestyle selection affects the outcome of long -term health.
Panican research is operated within the Ambassador Research Community of Finnish University. This research network, consisting of 20 teams, finds new ways to support physical and mental welfare throughout genetics, patient management and disease prevention.
By tracking the habits of children for several years, this study helps us draw a clear picture of how much time and time we move to move.
Implications for screen time
This study delivers a clear message. It is a simple formula, but it is difficult to implement it in today’s digital world.
Parents, teachers and policymakers all help young people develop healthier habits.
Future research will explore how to interact with various lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, and stress management.
But at this time, the evidence is powerful. Reducing mobile devices and increasing physical activity can be two of the best stages to improve youth mental health.
This study was published in the journal. Jama Network Open.
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