Screen time and depression risk: A meta-analysis of cohort studies

Abstract

BackgroundThe impact of screen time on mental health, including depression, has attracted increasing attention from not only children and adolescents but also the elderly. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis of cohort studies to evaluate the association between screen time and depression risk.MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched for cohort studies up to May 2022, and the reference lists of the included studies were also retrieved. A random-effect model was used to estimate the combined effect size. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic. Potential publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot and Begg’s and Egger’s tests.ResultsThe final analysis included 18 cohort studies with a combined total of 241,398 participants. The pooled risk ratio (RR) was 1.10 (95% confidence interval: 1.05–1.14), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 82.7%, P < 0.001). The results of subgroup analyses showed that the pooled RRs varied according to geographic locations, gender, age group, screen time in the control group, depression at the baseline, and whether the study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. No obvious evidence of publication bias was found.ConclusionThis study indicates that screen time is a predictor of depressive symptoms. The effects of screen time on depression risk may vary based on the participant’s age, gender, location, and screen time duration. The findings could have important implications for the prevention of depression.

Prospective association of screen time with binge‐eating disorder among adolescents in the United States: The mediating role of depression

“…The current prospective findings on the incidence of BED at the two‐year follow‐up extend prior work showing a positive association between screen time and BED among adolescents (Fiechtner et al, 2018; Nagata et al, 2021). Moreover, replicating findings from prior studies, this investigation found that screen time was also prospectively associated with increased depression symptoms over 1 year (Boers et al, 2019; Li et al, 2022). However, different studies have yielded different results regarding the relationship between screen time and depression symptoms.…”

“…Furthermore, screen time on social media may contribute to lowering self-esteem and increased depression symptoms in adolescents via upward social comparisons (i.e., comparing themselves to others who have more favorable social positions) (Li et al, 2022). Although not examined here, the role of social media screen time may be particularly relevant to eating disorders like BED, given potential impacts on other known risk factors such as body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint.…”

“…This finding is consistent with a prior study that found that depression was a significant mediating factor in the relationship between social media use and overall disordered eating symptoms (as reflected by the Eating Attitudes Test‐26 total score) in adolescents (Ghergut et al, 2022). Higher screen time may contribute to increased depression symptoms through several interpersonal (e.g., less social interactions, lower social support) and behavioral (e.g., poor sleep quality, less physical activity) factors (Boers et al, 2019; Li et al, 2022). Furthermore, screen time on social media may contribute to lowering self‐esteem and increased depression symptoms in adolescents via upward social comparisons (i.e., comparing themselves to others who have more favorable social positions) (Li et al, 2022).…”

“…Higher screen time may contribute to increased depression symptoms through several interpersonal (e.g., less social interactions, lower social support) and behavioral (e.g., poor sleep quality, less physical activity) factors (Boers et al, 2019; Li et al, 2022). Furthermore, screen time on social media may contribute to lowering self‐esteem and increased depression symptoms in adolescents via upward social comparisons (i.e., comparing themselves to others who have more favorable social positions) (Li et al, 2022). Although not examined here, the role of social media screen time may be particularly relevant to eating disorders like BED, given potential impacts on other known risk factors such as body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint.…”

“…Depression symptoms represent one factor that may underlie the association between screen time and binge eating. Specifically, evidence suggests that higher screen time is associated with depression symptoms (Boers et al, 2019), likely due to a combination of social, psychological, and behavioral factors such as reduced social interactions, sleep disturbances, and physical inactivity (Boers et al, 2019; Li et al, 2022). Moreover, depression is one of the common co‐occurring mental health concerns in individuals with BED (Araujo et al, 2010), and findings from prior research indicate that depression is a risk factor for BED onset (Wade, 2017).…”