Children stay almost three times longer than the recommended time in front of the screens of electronic devices during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new Canadian study, quoted by “Medical Express”.
On the other hand, parents are stressed because of financial problems or that they have lost their job.
On average, teens spend nearly six hours a day in front of monitors, according to data collected by researchers at the University of Western Ontario. Some even stare at the screens of their electronic devices for even longer – the stunning 13 hours a day.
Canadian pediatricians recommend that children over the age of five stay in front of screens for two hours.
Scientists calculate the total time that children watch TV, use computers, smartphones or play video games.
The study involved parents with children between the ages of six and twelve. They complete an online questionnaire that compares the time before the electronic device with other daily activities before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Volunteers also answer questions related to stress levels and children’s participation in various activities.
The bottom line is that most parents are stressed, and teens stay in front of electronic devices for much longer.
According to Canadian scientists, the stress of parents is due to individual circumstances. For example, they may be worried about living in a small apartment, having financial problems, or being unemployed. Although the study does not address these factors, the researchers hope to establish the long-term effects of excessive sitting in front of electronic device screens through a new study that is already underway. The results will be clear in the spring of next year.
Experts encourage parents to control the use of electronic devices by children and to plan activities that are not related to the use of high-tech devices.
The data from the Canadian study were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
