UFMG – Federal University of Minas Gerais

The excessive use of screens is related to a worsening of the mental health of their users, regardless of age, found a thesis defended in the Postgraduate Program in Molecular Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of UFMG. The research results unexpectedly showed the presence of nomophobia (fear of being away from the cell phone) in the elderly. Considering only the studies that evaluated children, 72% of them found an increase in depression associated with excessive exposure to screens in this group.

A possible explanation for this relationship is the increase in time spent in front of screens on a daily basis, following the Covid-19 pandemic. Screens are increasingly used for work, entertainment and study. “It was noticed that young patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in addition to depression, had their screens on all the time, and, during the pandemic, they were the main allies against loneliness. However, the consequences of this excessive use can be seen now”, says Renata Maria Silva Santos, author of the research.

Another motivation for these results is the use of devices as a distraction for children, while parents do their tasks, which contributes to increased hours of use. In this sense, the distance between parents and children can lead to an increased tendency towards depression in children.

Systematic review
The study was carried out through a systematic review, that is, analysis of primary studies on the subject – there were 142 articles and more than two million people from different countries monitored. “Most of these people are teenagers, because they are digital natives. But what draws attention is the number of elderly people who have developed a phobia of being separated from their cell phones. This study is a warning about the excessive use of screens, people’s relationships with them and the content consumed”, says the researcher.

The thesis also shows that participation in social networks was responsible for a greater risk of depression in girls, since a considerable part of what they display on networks are bodies considered perfect, which generates comparisons and affects mental health. The same occurs with elderly people who consume violent content on television.

“The conclusion is that it is not enough to limit screen time, it is also necessary to enrich time outside of screen, trying to keep your mind active. Lack of time management increases stress considerably. In the United States, for example, more than 30% of adults play games on their devices, which interferes with day-to-day tasks”, argues the researcher.

Based on these results, the researchers suggest some alternatives, such as determining screen time according to age and searching for activities that provide more possibilities for socialization, such as cinema. Furthermore, encouraging the practice of physical activities outdoors is essential to combat the excessive use of devices. “The study indicates that dependence can decrease by 10% if the smartphone is one meter away from the user, which contributes to increasing cognitive load, the factor responsible for reasoning”, adds Renata Santos.

Screens and IQ
The research also revealed that excessive use of screens can lead to a decrease in intelligence quotient (IQ) sooner than expected. This is because there is a lack of encouragement for activities that require quick thinking and other skills that contribute to the active functioning of the brain.

The researcher emphasizes that some activities can be carried out, even with the screen, as long as there is interaction: “When the person interacts with the screen, cognitive stimuli occur. This can improve memory and reasoning, especially in the elderly. With these gains, the depressive process may take longer to set in,” she says.

Renata Santos also argues that her work can help people seeking help for mental health problems, as she demonstrated the impact of screens in this field. According to the author, the thesis also suggests healthy ways of managing them. “Even when you are immersed in the digital world, you need to look for ways to interact with screens in a healthy way. And we need to help people who are affected by its inappropriate use”, she concludes.

‘Health with science’
The radio program Health with science This week’s episode addresses mental health and its association with screen time. Produced by the Communication Center of the UFMG Faculty of Medicine, the program can be heard on Rádio UFMG Educativa (104.5 FM) – from Monday to Friday, at 5am, 8am and 6pm – and on the main podcast platforms.