Is there a relationship between attention/hyperactivity problems in children and exposure to media?
Yes, there is a relationship between attention/hyperactivity problems in children and exposure to media.
Research has indicated that viewing screen media increases the risk of subsequent attention and hyperactivity problems in children and adolescents.
Media makes use of powerful sensory and emotional cues, which easily grabs viewers’ attention. If children spend a lot of time with screen media, they may become dependent upon sensory and emotional cues to maintain attention. This then may interfere when a child is in a less stimulating environment, such as in a classroom or when a child is completing homework and there is an absence of sensory and emotional cues to maintain attention.
Research has indicated that increased attention and hyperactivity problems associated with excessive exposure to screen media predicts more aggressive behavior, worse grades in school, and a lower probability of graduating from college.
Media makes use of powerful sensory and emotional cues, which easily grabs viewers’ attention. If children spend a lot of time with screen media, they may become dependent upon sensory and emotional cues to maintain attention. This then may interfere when a child is in a less stimulating environment, such as in a classroom or when a child is completing homework and there is an absence of sensory and emotional cues to maintain attention.
