Current location:health >>
Children addicted to tech including smartphones are more at risk of psychosis, study suggests
health6479People have gathered around
IntroductionChildren addicted to smartphones, iPads and video games are more likely to suffer psychotic episodes ...
Children addicted to smartphones, iPads and video games are more likely to suffer psychotic episodes later in life, a study has indicated.
Scientists found that smartphone and social media use in adolescence is linked to paranoia, delusions, hallucinations and 'bizarre ideas' by the time a person reaches 23.
But researchers said that the tech itself may not actually be the cause of the problem and that a child's addiction to the devices could be a warning that they are already vulnerable to mental illness.
Writing in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, the Canadian team behind the study said: 'Higher media use and mental health problems appear to share risk factors, such as parental mental health problems, loneliness, bullying and parent-child relational problems.'
Researchers advised that clinicians should consider why a gadget-addicted youth who is suffering from psychotic experiences became hooked in the first place, before blaming the technology (stock picture)
A child's addiction to the devices could be a warning that they are already vulnerable to mental illness (stock image)
The researchers also warned that forcing addicted youngsters to go 'cold turkey' by abruptly depriving them of screen time may not help and could be more harmful.
The study looked at the media habits and psychotic experiences of 2,120 Canadians born in 1997 and 1998. It found that those who drastically reduced their computer use still had more frequent psychotic experiences in adulthood, even after other personal experiences were considered.
READ MORE: Fascinating charts show explosion in number of children who think they are trans amid claims Covid lockdowns fuelled rates - especially in young girls
AdvertisementIt also said internet use is more strongly associated with depression than video gaming or television viewing. Meanwhile, gaming may support emotional regulation and the development of social skills more than 'passive' forms of technology such as TV.
The researchers advised that clinicians should consider why a gadget-addicted youth who is suffering from psychotic experiences became hooked in the first place, before blaming the technology.
Dr Simona Skripkauskaite, of Oxford University, said: 'High digital technology use in adolescence can be an early marker, rather than a cause, of later mental health problems.'
He added experts are 'moving away' from seeing digital technology as a 'root cause of all contemporary troubles': 'Pre-existing personal circumstances often underlie both elevated media use and mental health difficulties.'
Earlier this year, the Millennium Cohort Study, which followed 18,000 families, found almost half of British teenagers feel addicted to social media.
And recent research by King's College London concluded that one in three people meet the criteria for clinical smartphone addiction. Addicts may lose control over how long they spend on their phones, become distressed when they cannot access their devices and neglect other more meaningful parts of their lives.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Stellar Standpoint news portal”。http://spratlyislands.fictionsmistress.com/news-99a299896.html
Related articles
Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri
healthGOODHOPE, Mo. (AP) — Four people in rural Missouri died when an explosion that could be heard 10 mil ...
【health】
Read moreLast month was officially the hottest March on RECORD with global temperatures 0.73°C above average
healthWith sunbathing opportunities aplenty in the northern hemisphere, it may not come as a surprise. But ...
【health】
Read moreMcDonald's praised for innovative ad that smells exactly like classic item on their menu
healthMcDonald's in the Netherlands has launched an innovative new advertising campaign, utlising somethin ...
【health】
Read more
Popular articles
- Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy
- More than 200 US chemical plants must reduce toxic emissions under new EPA rule
- My friend turned up to my wedding as a surprise, took four pizzas and had sex with my sister
- Michigan approves 'extremely toxic' copper mine just 100ft from Lake Superior
- Justin Timberlake set to bring his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour to Australia in 2025
- Could you get your best ever career advice from a ROBOT? The pros and cons of using AI on the job
Latest articles
Nuggets blow 20
Jessi Campbell: Little girl's brave battle after being born with 1kg cyst on her arm
Scientists reveal the surest way to stop feeling angry in stressful situations
China's latest missile test raises the stakes for Biden's nuclear weapons review
Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia
How to see a once
LINKS
- Tsitsipas beats Sinner to reach Monte Carlo Masters final, will face Djokovic or Ruud
- Decreased clout reason for U.S. anger at Beijing
- Grain reserve base project under construction in Qinhuangdao, north China's Hebei
- Chinese premier pledges efforts to promote equipment upgrades, trade
- Morale plunges amid setbacks as Myanmar’s junta looks for scapegoats — Radio Free Asia
- Executor of O.J. Simpson's estate plans to fight payout to the families of Brown and Goldman
- To build even closer relations between China, Central Asian countries
- Commentary: Washington's WTO farce bane for global trade order
- Commentary: Uncertain times call for steady China
- Morale plunges amid setbacks as Myanmar’s junta looks for scapegoats — Radio Free Asia