A new study suggests that limiting children’s screen time to three hours per week can significantly improve their mental health and behavior in as little as two weeks. The research, conducted by Dr. Jesper Schmidt-Persson and his team from the University of Southern Denmark, involved 181 participants aged 4-17 from 89 families.

Half of the participants were instructed to restrict their leisure screen time to a maximum of three hours weekly, while the other half maintained their usual habits. The study excluded essential screen use for schoolwork or homework.

Rapid Improvements in Behavior and Well-Being

After two weeks, children in the restricted group showed notable improvements in behavior and emotional well-being. Using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, researchers observed a reduction in behavioral challenges, moving from the “borderline” to the “normal” category.

“This secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial found that a short-term reduction in leisure-time screen media use within families positively affected the psychological symptoms of children and adolescents,” the researchers wrote in the study published in the Jama Network journal.

Significant enhancements were also seen in emotional issues, peer difficulties, and prosocial behavior. While the study didn’t explore the reasons behind these positive impacts, researchers speculate it may be due to increased time for face-to-face social interactions.

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Potential Link to Face-to-Face Social Engagement

“When children and adolescents spend much of their leisure time using screen media devices, a putative effect may be diminishing face-to-face social engagement with friends, peers, and family members,” the researchers added.

The study highlights the potential benefits of reducing screen time for children’s mental health, though more research is needed to determine if these effects are sustainable in the long term.

Read more at Medical Daily