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Children from primary and secondary schools around the city and in regional WA are being recruited for the first study internationally to assess the impact of screen-based technologies on their mental health over an extended period.

The Healthway-funded study is being undertaken by researchers at The University of Western Australia and includes mobile phones, the internet, video games, computers, ipads, ipods and television.

Lead investigator Winthrop Professor Steve Houghton (Director of the UWA Centre for Child and Adolescent-Related Disorders) said children and adolescents were spending more time on screen-based activities.

"While there has been some research looking at how this behaviour relates to children's physical health, much less attention has been paid to the impact on their mental health," he said.

"Given the pervasiveness of these technologies in young people's lives, understanding the links between use and mental health, and developing evidence-based guidelines for use, are crucial."

"We've already had a fantastic response from schools to the study, as many teachers and parents are recognising that screen use has changed the nature of childhood and adolescence in many ways."

The study will examine the frequency, intensity and types of screen-based activity, and how this varies for different ages and gender.  The study's innovative design will enable researchers to collect data for three years but model a 10-year growth curve.

Professor Houghton said the study would also develop a problematic screen-use scale.  "Parents and schools find it hard to gauge when a child's screen use is becoming a problem," he said.  "We're not saying all screen use is bad because there are many good things about modern technology.  But for some young people, it becomes their reality and they can spend so much time on screen that it can impact on their health and well-being."

Letters requesting parental consent have been sent to parents and all information collected will be de-identified to assure the anonymity of participating children and parents.

Participating country schools are in York, Yanchep, Katanning, Manjimup, East Manjimup and Margaret River.  City schools are in Balga, Clarkson, Greenwood, West Greenwood, Duncraig, Claremont and Peppermint Grove.

Media references

Winthrop Professor Steve Houghton (Director of the UWA Centre for Child and Adolescent-Related Disorders)  (+61 8)  6488 2391
Associate Professor Lisa Wood (Deputy Director, UWA Centre for the Built Environment and Health)  (+61 8)  6488 7809
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783