GoKawiilA Finnish study has found an unexpected association between screen use and cognitive performance. Children who accumulated more screen time as they grew up tended to show better cognitive processing during adolescence. One of the researchers cautions against viewing screen time as entirely harmful and says the goal should be to balance physical activity with screen use that encourages active thinking.
Low levels of physical activity among adolescents remain a significant public health concern. Sedentary behavior has been associated with poorer academic achievement, while physical activity is known to support brain function, particularly in adults. Much less is known, however, about how physical activity and sedentary behavior during childhood and adolescence relate to cognitive processing later in adolescence.
These years are especially important because the brain is still developing. Factors that shape cognitive abilities during childhood and adolescence may have lasting effects that extend into adulthood, potentially influencing education and working life.
Researchers examined how physical activity, sedentary behavior, and screen time from childhood through adolescence were related to cognitive processing in the teenage years. They also looked for differences between girls and boys and investigated whether the intensity of physical activity played a role.
More Screen Time Linked to Better Cognitive Processing
The results showed that greater screen time beginning in childhood was associated with better cognitive processing in adolescence.
"The findings suggest that screen time can support children's and adolescents' cognitive processing. Presumably, the essential point here is what kind of things they do in their screen time. Teachers and parents should encourage children to use devices and screens in such ways that promote active thinking, problem-solving, creativity and learning," states Doctoral Researcher Petri Jalanko from the University of Jyväskylä.
The findings suggest that the type of screen activity may be important. Digital activities that involve learning, creativity, problem-solving, or other forms of active mental engagement could potentially help explain the association observed in the study.
"We should not regard screen time solely as harmful but seek balance between physical activity and screen time that promotes active thinking," Jalanko summarizes.
Physical Activity Showed Different Links in Girls and Boys
... continue reading