A recent study by researchers at the Services for Healthy Use of Technology (SHUT) Clinic at NIMHANS has highlighted growing parental concern over children’s screen time, linking excessive use to loss of control and negative effects on overall well-being.
Published in the Industrial Psychiatry Journal, the study- “Technology use and screen time among children: Parental concerns from a cross-sectional survey in India”- surveyed 424 parents of children up to 18 years, examining usage patterns and parental perceptions.
Behavioural concerns
The findings revealed that higher screen time is strongly associated with concerns such as children’s inability to regulate usage, excessive engagement with gaming and social media, and difficulties in responsible use. Parents also reported adverse effects on physical, psychological and social functioning.
“Parents are increasingly reporting difficulties in regulating their children’s technology use, especially when it begins to interfere with sleep, studies and daily routines,” said Rajesh Kumar, assistant professor of Clinical Psychology at NIMHANS and corresponding author.
