s the world digitises, children and adolescents are increasingly using digital technologies. These devices offer benefits such as exposure to social contacts and support, potential learning opportunities and access to health promotion material. However, along with these benefits, emerging evidence is indicating that frequent, extended use of digital devices is associated with negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. There are many ways to use devices both for learning and recreation, so context of use is important when considering these impacts. As the pace of change unfolds, this narrative review provides an overview of the impacts of using digital technologies on the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents across eight areas: vision, hearing, obesity, pain, sleep, cognition, mental health, and social impacts. Key points summarise the current state of evidence with relating expert opinion on reducing the risk of harm, where indicated, with the aim to aid decision-making and risk intervention. Sources include global large-scale studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Physiotherapists, with a professional scope focusing on physical health, quality of life, health promotion and advocacy, are well positioned to support children and families, and to contribute to interventions aimed at reducing risk.
Cullen, J., Muntz, A., Marsh, S., Simmonds, L., Mayes, J., O’Neill, K., & Duncan, S. (2024). Impact of digital screen use on health and wellbeing of children and adolescents: A narrative review. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 52(1), 62–77. Retrieved from https://nzjp.org.nz/nzjp/article/view/364
Read the full article on NZJP.
There's a new addiction in New Zealand - more than a third of Kiwis say they are hooked on their screens and many are blaming Covid for it. As the country enters its second week of lockdown, New Zealanders have been averaging five hours of screen time a day on top of using devices for work and school since the Covid pandemic started last year, a new NortonLifeLock study has found.
Read More
Video games have become so good, and provide such a sensory smorgasbord of action and colour, that children are becoming dangerously addicted. They’re playing for days on end, to the exclusion of everything else in their lives, including school, friends and family.
Read MoreWe greatly appreciate your feedback on this website and would like to know what information you found useful and what services you would like to see next. Please take a couple of minutes to let us know.
survey
