Background: Significant changes in the methods and modes of mobile phone (MP) use in modern primary schoolchildren and insufficient knowledge of their health consequences have determined the relevance and purpose of this study. Objective: To assess the dynamics of MP use in primary school students and its impact on children’s well-being. Materials and methods: In 2017–2019, changes in the type of MP, modes of voice communication and mobile Internet (MI) use, and the dynamics of the health symptoms frequency were assessed in the prospective cohort study of 47 primary schoolchildren (25 boys and 22 girls) using questionnaires. MP radiation levels were measured for 23 children. Results: During the observation period, we noted a decrease in the level of MP radiation (p = 0.002); an increase in the proportion of children using MI (from 57.4 to 85.1 %, p = 0.006) and in the frequency (p = 0.002) and duration (p = 0.01) of MI use; keeping MP closer to the body in the daytime (p = 0.01). By the end of the study, we observed an increase in the proportion of children with clinically significant symptoms (CSS) of sleep disturbance (from 23.4 to 40.4 %, p = 0.025) and anxiety (from 2.12 to 12.8 %, p = 0.043). The decrease in MP radiation levels accompanied by an increase in the frequency and duration of MI use correlated with the replacement of the “push-button” MP with a smartphone. The switch to smartphone and MI usage was associated with an increase in CSS of anxiety (p = 0.02) and difficulty falling asleep (p = 0.043). Conclusion: The study showed that in modern junior schoolchildren aged 7–10 with a short experience of MP usage, transition to using a MP as a multimedia device is a more important factor in impairment of well-being than the duration and intensity of MP voice communication.
Background: Modern children are noted for increasing mobile Internet usage, during which the electromagnetic field exposure is aggravated by the exposure to the phone screen light, both affecting children’s well-being. The relevance and purpose of this study have been determined by insufficient knowledge of effects of this combined exposure and the lack of data on the patterns of mobile Internet usage detrimental to younger schoolchildren’s health. Objective: To assess the impact of mobile Internet usage on the well-being of elementary students and to establish its parameters posing risks of children’s ill-being. Materials and methods: In 2017–2019, a cross-sectional study of 140 Moscow first to fourth graders was conducted using questionnaires to establish the parameters of smartphone use for voice calls and access to mobile Internet as well as the frequency of health complaints and neurological history. In addition, the energy flux of electromagnetic fields generated by the children’s cell phones was measured. In 112 students with a normal neurological history, of which 77 used and 35 did not use mobile Internet, the applied statistical methods revealed the parameters of mobile Internet usage posing risks of ill-being, i.e. having certain health complaints several times a week. Results: Mobile Internet usage was associated with sleep dissatisfaction in the children (OR = 6.81; 95 % CI: 1.91–24.22), which occurred when the monthly Internet usage exceeded 8.62 hours and a session length was more than 10 minutes. Daily Internet usage increased the risk of forgetfulness (OR = 5.23; 95 % CI: 1.43–19.19) while higher levels of smartphone radiation correlated with both sleep dissatisfaction and forgetfulness. A low intensity of mobile Internet usage (less than 17.74 hours a month) was associated with low mood in the study population. Conclusion: To prevent ill-being, younger students shall be advised to exclude mobile Internet usage or to limit it to 8.62 hours per month.
Introduction: Intensive introduction of digital technologies and educational tools poses risks of visual impairment in children and adolescents as the most active users of the digital space. Objective: To assess risks of visual impairment in children and adolescents in the context of active dissemination of digital technologies in education and everyday life based on a literature review in order to choose directions for pediatric prevention of eye diseases. Materials and methods: We did a review of Russian and English language scientific literature published in 2007–2021, found on eLIBRARY.RU, PUBMED, Web of Science, and Scopus information portals and platforms. We selected 48 articles containing an evidence-based assessment of risks of eye diseases related to e-learning and long screen time in children and adolescents, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown. Results: We observed combined risks of visual impairment and musculoskeletal disorders due to violation of hygienic requirements for illumination, working posture, distance to the screen, and screen time when using various gadgets. Concomitant risk factors for eye diseases related to vitamin D deficiency were evaluated. Conclusions: We identified groups at risk of visual impairment based on health indicators and the intensity of using the digital environment. We also specified basic methodological and regulatory documents, the compliance with which could reduce the risks of visual impairment in children, adolescents, and students, and proposed up-to-date directions of research on the topic of the review for maintenance of eye health.
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