Screen Time and ADHD Behaviors in Chinese Children: Findings From Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Data

Abstract

Objective: Research suggests that screen exposure presents a risk for ADHD behaviors in young children. However, the operationalization of screen exposure remains murky and longitudinal data is scarce. In this paper, we examined the relations between better operationalized daily screen time and behaviors of inattention and behaviors of hyperactivity/impulsivity in three cohorts of community samples of young Chinese children. Method: Study 1 was longitudinal and included 111 children who were 3.6 years old (Range = 2.4–4.9; SD = 0.4) at Baseline and 4.8 years old (Range = 3.9–6.0; SD = 0.4) at Follow-Up. Study 2 was cross-sectional and included 172 children aged 4.9 years (Range = 3.0–7.1; SD = 1.0). Study 3 was also cross-sectional and included 313 children who were 6.9 years old (Range = 5.7–8.3; SD = 0.4). In each study, the parents reported how much time that their children spent daily on iPad/tablet, smart phone, and online games and watching TV in the previous week, and their children’s behaviors of inattention (I/A) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (H/I). Results: Regression analysis revealed that in Study 1, controlling for child demographics, mother’s education, family SES, and corresponding I/A or H/I scores at Baseline, screen time at Baseline predicted I/A scores ( β = .27, p < .01) and H/I scores ( β = .32, p < .001) at Follow-Up. Similarly, controlling for covariates, screen time predicted I/A scores ( β = .25, p < .01) and H/I scores ( β = .25, p < .01) in Study 2; I/A scores ( β = 0.16, p < .01) and H/I scores ( β = .15, p < .05) in Study 3. Conclusion: Screen exposure was a risk for inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity behaviors in urban Chinese children.

Screen time and its relationship with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among children attending a tertiary care hospital

“…Results from China, Canada and India reported a similar positive correlation between the two. 4,22,23 However, a study in the Netherlands showed no association between ST and ADHD, which is in contrast with the current findings. 24 The reason for no association between ST and ADHD could be that increased ST is associated with ADHD symptoms later in life in some children.…”

The causal associations between screen exposure time and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a two-sample Mendelian randomization

“…The study shared that the time of watching television and using mobile phones had a risk of ADHD. A survey study from a longitudinal and cross-sectional in children (n = 596) [22] and a cross-sectional in young adults (n = 408) also con rmed this conclusion [23] that there was an association between early screen exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders. The previous study showed that individuals with ADHD began to be exposed to electronic screens earlier and for more extended periods, which easily affected their cognition development.…”

Preschool children’s screen time during the COVID-19 pandemic: associations with family characteristics and children’s anxiety/withdrawal and approaches to learning

“…However, these studies focused on Euro-American children of primary school age, and the question of whether screen time affects Chinese preschool children’s approaches to learning during the pandemic received less attention. Tan and Zhou’s ( 2022 ) study, conducted in Chinese children, indicated that preschool children’s (aged 3 to 6) excessive screen time predicted children’s inattention problem, but they did not distinguish between the different types of screen time.…”