Critically appraising the pitfalls of screen time effects research

Abstract

Existing recommendations regulating screen time use and studies investigating its effects are inherently problematic for two main reasons. First, they imply that screen time activities are essentially the same in nature regardless of what type of digital content is being consumed. This phenomenon has been described as monolithic screen time, which refers to an assessment approach to screen time implying that all screen time activities are qualitatively and psychologically equivalent. This assessment may be one of the main reasons leading researchers to report conflicting evidence in relation to the potential role of screen time in enhancing and/ or deteriorating psychological health and well-being of users. [continued…]