Many of us often find ourselves lost in a trance, sucked into spending hours and hours on our devices without even realizing it. While screens have benefited the world in copious forms in the past decade, they have concurrently created widespread harmful effects on the well-being of humans. The recent global pandemic quarantined families and secluded individuals to the confines of their homes. Unprecedented times inspired original ways to stay in touch and shape the “new normal” in life. It is clear that digital screens have positively changed the world in many ways. Nevertheless, extensive use of screens and technology can have adverse effects on human well-being. It is valuable to keep screen time in check.
Apart from the spike in screen usage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we live in a growing age of social media and technology. Screens are increasingly prevalent in everyday life beyond practical uses for work and academics. Poet Oscar Wilde stated “everything in moderation,” which is a common life mantra that rings true to even screen time. Excessive usage can be detrimental to both physical and mental health, yet a refined amount can, in fact, be beneficial.
An October 2022 research study in npj Mental Health Research examined how well-being, mood, and stress biomarkers change in response to lowering screen usage in adult populations. From 89 families, a total of 164 adults were chosen to monitor their major screen usage reduction from June 2019 to March 2021. Each individual was limited to three hours of screen time per week and compliance was monitored using apps and TV monitors. The participants’ mental health, disposition, and daily stress biomarkers of cortisol and cortisone were assessed at baseline and two weeks thereafter.
It is ubiquitously known that screen time can have poor effects on overall well-being, yet a causal relationship had never previously been established. The results of the study provided a clear answer: substantial reduction of recreational screen time led to considerably improved self-reported mood and overall mental wellness. Biomarkers for cortisol and cortisone were not specifically affected, yet well-being was clearly influenced by time spent scrolling and staring at the screens.
The negative effects of digital screen time are wide-ranging: heightened perceived stress, depression, and overall negativity. The significant reduction of screen time to three hours per week adopted by participants in the study generated outcomes that should spark all people to take a second look at the hours spent on screens each day and week. Participants reported widespread increases in their mental health states and experienced improved mood disturbance scores computed by a mood test regarding depression, anger, fatigue, confusion, and vigor. These adverse feelings and emotions play a role in the stress of daily life, all of which most people would like to reduce. Although said feelings and emotions cannot be prevented, this study and numerous others in the scientific research fields contribute to increased mental well-being and resulting higher quality of life due to reduced screen time.
Physical well-being, body composition, diet, and energy levels can also be dictated and affected by screen time as well. It is integral to live actively and presently in our daily lives. The alternate world of technology and screens can often prevent individuals from living as actively and healthily as they should.
Although excessive screen usage can isolate one from the world, increase negative mood, and lower overall mental well-being, screens can improve life in a plethora of ways when used in a balanced way. Utilizing screens to connect with friends and family over Zoom, FaceTime, online multiplayer games, and social media can strengthen interactions and foster greater community. Screens allow us to stay in touch, create art, study, learn, read, relax, and provide so many other positive outlets. Nonetheless, it is integral to practice restraint with screen usage. As we utilize screens each day and discover all of the wonderful things they have to offer, we all must remember to live presently in the three-dimensional world in order to maintain health and happiness.
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