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This page is an AI-assisted Turkish summary of the study presented at the 26th World Congress of Psychiatry. The study belongs to the presenting authors; please refer to the original source when citing it.

The effects and outcomes of screen exposure in childhood: harms, benefits, and the value of supervision

Impact and outcomes of screen exposure in pediatric age: detriments, benefits, and the value of supervision

While excessive electronic device use in children and adolescents is associated with a wide range of biopsychosocial harms, supervised and developmentally appropriate use can be beneficial.

The aim of the presentation was to review current evidence on excessive electronic device (ED) use in children and adolescents, including its effects on physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development, and to identify risk and protective factors and recommendations for healthy technology use. The presentation took the form of a narrative review drawing on recent literature, including systematic and scoping reviews published between 2021 and 2026; it examined patterns of screen exposure, factors associated with excessive use, neurocognitive outcomes, physical health outcomes, and recommendations from international organizations. Screen time was reported to have increased markedly, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, and excessive ED use was associated with impairments in attention, executive functioning, language development, emotion regulation, and social cognition. Additional adverse effects included anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbances, academic difficulties, reduced social competence, obesity, musculoskeletal pain, postural problems, vision problems, exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and family disorganization. Risk factors included early exposure, lack of parental supervision, recreational and passive use, excessive device use by caregivers, and inadequate digital education; protective factors included structured, interactive, and supervised use, parental mediation, digital literacy, and participation in non-screen activities. In conclusion, exposure to electronic devices is an inevitable part of contemporary childhood; strategies that promote digital literacy, parental involvement, healthy lifestyles, and a balanced integration of digital and physical activities are essential to maximize benefits and minimize risks.

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