Excessive screen time impacts relationship between parents and children, psychologists warn

In a new policy paper, the Psychological Society of Ireland raised its concerns about the impact of screen use on parents and children, particularly during sensitive developmental periods like infancy and adolescence.

Psychologists have raised concerns over the impact excessive screen time is having on the connection between parents and their children and said the pastime represented a “growing public health concern”.

In a new policy paper, the Psychological Society of Ireland raised its concerns about the impact of screen use on parents and children, particularly during sensitive developmental periods like infancy and adolescence.

Authored by its Special Interest Group in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health, the society backed the introduction of public health measures such as free childcare and improved amenities to decrease the need for dependence on technology.

A growing body of Irish and international research indicates screen use has become a public health concern, it noted.

Its impact on every developmental stage from infancy to adolescence and beyond is now documented, and human interaction with the online world shapes the health and wellbeing of our population. 

This includes the “direct negative impact” of screens and social media, including adverse effects on mental wellbeing and physical health.

There is also a “passive” negative impact, the paper notes, where screen use displaces time that could otherwise be spent engaging in “health-promoting activities” such as exercise, sleep and social interaction.

Humans are "born ready to experience connection", the paper notes, as  "a survival mechanism which nurtures the growing brain". 

"It is this connection with others that is the foundation of positive physical, social, and emotional development. Yet the urge for connection and communication can also drive our online behaviour." 

It added: "Human development is ongoing, but there are periods in our lives, namely during infancy and adolescence, where the brain is changing dramatically, and a person’s environment has profound impacts on development." 

It is also "very difficult" to establish a definitive guide to what age a person is able to interact safely with online content, the report writers added. 

"Age-appropriate use of online platforms should be based on each child’s level of maturity, cognisant of self-regulation skills, problem-solving skills, intellectual development, comprehension of risks, and individual strengths, vulnerabilities, and their home environment." 

Research emphasises the effect of digital engagement on children depends more on content and context than on time spent, it added.