Current location:business >>
Children addicted to tech including smartphones are more at risk of psychosis, study suggests
business24People 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.“Starry Scope news portal”。http://israel.olivelawfirm.net/news-33d899958.html
Related articles
Insider Q&A: CIA's chief technologist's cautious embrace of generative AI
businessKnowledge advantage can save lives, win wars and avert disaster. At the Central Intelligence Agency, ...
【business】
Read moreWho's a clever boy? Dogs excel in different intelligence tasks
businessAt school there was always one pupil who seemed to excel in every subject, from maths to literature ...
【business】
Read moreEnjoy last night's solar eclipse? How to tell if it could have PERMANENTLY damaged your eyes
businessIt was dubbed the biggest astronomical event of the decade. An estimated 32million people enjoyed on ...
【business】
Read more
Popular articles
- Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation
- Sweet or savory? This is what your taste in snacks says about you, according to science
- Vanessa Hudgens displays her baby bump in a tight
- I used ChatGPT to go on hundreds of Tinder dates
- College baseball notebook: Conference tournaments to decide NCAA automatic bids and many at
- How to tell if you have the sleep disorder that even doctors don't know about
Latest articles
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Why cat urine smells so bad: Scientists reveal what causes the unique stench
Vanessa Hudgens displays her baby bump in a tight
Outrage as Tesla starts shipping $3,000 Cybertruck tent that looks nothing like as advertised
Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City
How to tell if you have the sleep disorder that even doctors don't know about
LINKS
- Billie Eilish announces 81
- Google and Apple now threatened by the US antitrust laws helped build their technology empires
- Rays and Brewers get into wild brawl, with Uribe and Siri in the middle of it
- The Wanted stars Max George and Siva Kaneswaran are reuniting for a new tour of India
- Roman Josi and Alexandre Carrier score goals and Predators stay alive with 2
- Castillo throws 7 shutout innings and then Mariners bullpen hangs on for 3
- Police clear pro
- 17th Chinese Bridge language competition held in Bulgaria
- Egyptian, Chinese students mark UN Chinese Language Day in Cairo
- Lady Liberty unguarded: Tax