Several studies have suggested a link between excessive screen time and negative psychological outcomes, including depression and anxiety . However, the relationship between screen time and manic symptoms in early adolescents remains underexplored. To address this gap, a study has examined this association in 9,243 early adolescents aged 10–11 years. The study found that the typical daily screen time (4.6 hours/day) in year 1 was significantly linked to increased manic symptoms in year 3.
This association was particularly evident among early adolescents engaged in social media, texting, video watching, and video gaming. Notably, problematic social media use, video game use, and reduced sleep duration in year 2 partially mediated these effects, contributing 47.7%, 58.0%, and 9.0% mediation, respectively. This study highlights the link between screen time and manic symptoms in adolescents…
