Researchers have linked screen time among preteens to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in a new study released in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
The findings provide an important focus on the possible dangers of excessive screen time among kids.
The study involved a questionnaire administered to more than 9,000 preteens aged 9 to 10. The participants were asked about their screen time habits. A follow-up survey two years later assessed any OCD symptoms and diagnoses as they aged.
The chances of developing OCD over a two-year period was 13 percent higher for each hour the preteens played video games and 11 percent higher for each hour they watched videos on their electronic devices.
“Although screen time can have important benefits such as education and increased socialization, parents should be aware of the potential risks, especially to mental health,” according to a co-author of the study.
“Families can develop a media use plan which could include screen-free times including before bedtime.”
