TarthenalToblakai t1_j79i7m5 wrote
As per usual: correlation is not necessarily causation.
Is too much screen time the cause, or is it an underlying symptom itself?
ADHD, for example, inherently comes with executive dysfunction, emotional regulation, impulse control issues, etc. It also drives a compulsive need for dopamine and stimulation seeking, in turn making one more susceptible to addictions (whether it be TV, video games, gambling, drugs, sex, etc.)
Furthermore, it has a strong genetic component. If a kid has it chances are at least one of their parents also has it. Executive dysfunction in adults leads to greater propensity to get exhausted and burnt out more quickly, and the same dopamine seeking, meaning on average they may be more inclined to let their kids have free reign of screens to give them a break.
And of course there's hundreds of other factors and variables. Single parent households would have similar issues with burn out, plus just needing to keep kids occupied while you cook, do laundry, etc. That (and higher likelihood of poverty on a single income) could incentivize more reliance on microwavable dinners and fast food, adding the possibility that less than ideal nutrition could play a part.
Also: is it an abundance of screen time in particular, or rather a lack of human connection and communication? Would it make a difference if their screen time was replaced with reading books or playing with toys, as long as they still have the same lack of human interaction? And what if the screentime includes human interaction such as playing a multiplayer video game or watching and discussing shows with siblings or friends?
Now don't get me wrong, I don't believe that there's no causation there at all. There likely is. I just think describing it in terms of a simple straightforward narrative isn't wise. Realistically it's more of a complex intersecting network of factors and feedback loops.
EFisImportant t1_j7apl5u wrote
Obviously there is a lot they could be going on, but studies like that are an opening for further research. Researchers will never be able to do a RCT with the amount of TV, but it’s an interesting starting point to determine what causes some of these EF issues. By kindergarten, there are already gaps in EF based on SES. I haven’t read this study, but could tv time mediate the relation between SES and EF?
If so, now we can start to come up with interventions to see if that has any affect. Basically all childhood studies on development at not RCT bc it would be unethical to make kids do things they could mess with their development, but good studies can start to enlighten us and open doors to further studies.
TarthenalToblakai t1_j7az5cg wrote
Oh yeah, I've no qualms with the study itself. It effectively acknowledges what I've said here, and uses the word "is associated with" as opposed to "may lead to".
As per usual, the problem is less with the study itself and more with how (in this case social) media headlines misconstrue it to put forward a simplified "pop science" narrative.
MaxParedes t1_j7fxkyu wrote
Yes, a couple important passages from the study that dovetail with what you're saying:
However, the findings from this cohort study do not prove causation. Screen time likely represents a measurable contextual characteristic of a family or a proxy for the quality of parent-child interaction.
and:
Screen time at 12 months of age was reported by parents and not an objective measure. At that point, precise recording of screen use via moment-to-moment capture and machine learning, now referred to as screenome, was still in development. Time spent on each type of electronic device was also not collected. In 2010, handheld devices were beginning to surface in Singapore, and 97% of families were using television alone as the main source of screen time.
Along with the correlation/causation question, the use of self-reporting does seems like another reason for caution with the results. I wonder if there's data on whether parents accurately report things like this (especially sleep-deprived parents of infants!).
msjammies73 t1_j7jhgmf wrote
This shouldn’t be underestimated. My son has ADHD and another neurologic condition that comes with poor executive function and impulse control.
He absolutely loves screens. Even when he was a tiny baby if I put the tv on to watch some thing he would crank his head around to try to watch. I’ve always been careful about screen time because I was worried about how drawn he was to it. But the temptation to use it is always there.
corcyra t1_j7bbocf wrote
Might the rapid and fairly rhythmic rate at which images on-screen change have something to do with it? IRL, what we see doesn't move the same way or at the same rate a filmed or cartoon narrative does - think of how long it seems if a filmed scene focuses on one thing for more than a few seconds. If neural entrainment at such a rhythm and rate takes place too often at a young age, might it not lead to permanent neurological effects?
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