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Longitudinal associations between digital media use and ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents: a systematic literature review
Open accessAbstract
Previous reviews have often shown a link between digital media ADHD symptom levels. However, longitudinal studies are needed to find stronger evidence of a causal effect as well as to determine the direction of effects. The aim of the present review (PROSPERO CRD42021262695) was therefore to provide a systematic review of studies meeting the following inclusion criteria: (1) include longitudinal data investigating associations between digital media (i.e., gaming and social media) and later ADHD symptoms or vice versa, (2) be published within the past 10 years (i.e., 2011 until June 2021), (3) be published in a peer-reviewed journal in English, and (4) include children or adolescents (age 0-17 years). After a systematic search in the Web of Science and PsycInfo databases, we included 28 studies, all with adequate or high quality. Results showed support for reciprocal associations between digital media and ADHD symptoms, with associations being more consistent for problematic use of digital media than for screen time. Thus, children with ADHD symptoms appear more vulnerable to developing high or problematic use of digital media (i.e., selection effects), and digital media also have effects on later ADHD symptom levels, either because of specific characteristics of digital media or because of indirect effects on, for example, sleep and social relations (i.e., media effects). However, it should be emphasized that further studies investigating potential moderators and mediators are needed if we are to better understand the complex associations between digital media and ADHD symptom levels.
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“A more recent review evaluating the longitudinal associations between digital media use and ADHD symptoms found reciprocal associations between digital media use and ADHD symptoms [57].”
From Screen time and mental health: a prospective analysis of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (2024) · cites this paper as [57]
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Khanani, M. I., Khan, M. R., Farooqi, M. F., Fazal, J., Aabideen, Z., & Kuwaiti, N. A. (2025) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.88373 · Cited by 25
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“Similar symptoms may also be involved in other problematic behaviours (e.g., PSMU) (El Archi et al., 2022 ) and links between PSMU and ADHD are mainly studied in adolescent populations (e.g., Akbari et al., 2023a ; Thorell et al., 2024 ).”
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US State Policies Regarding Social Media: Do Policies Match the Evidence?
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Digital Media, Genetics, and Risk for ADHD Symptoms in Children: A Longitudinal Study
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The SASOP/PsychMg child and adolescent attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder guidelines
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“But, on the fl ip side, scholars and health professionals are also focusing on the opposite direction of this association — that is, whether some of these children with ADHD (32) or ASD like symptoms might be more likely to use digital media later on.”
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Metadata
- Authors
- Thorell, L. B., Burén, J., Ström Wiman, J., Sandberg, D., & Nutley, S. B.
- Affiliations
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Thorell, Lisa B.
- Venue
- European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Published
- 2022-12-23
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 2503-2526
- ISSN
- 1018-8827 (ISSN-L)
- 1435-165X
- PMC
- PMC11272698
- OpenAlex
- W4312115048
- Cited by
- 132
- References
- 88
- Citations by year
- 2026: 55 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 3
- FWCI
- 3.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Forskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd (2020-00630)
- Karolinska Institute
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- ADHD symptoms, digital media use, video gaming, social media, problematic media use, screen time, children, adolescents, bidirectional relationship, selection effects, sleep, interpersonal relationships, causal effects
- MeSH terms
- Screen Time, Adolescent, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Video Games, Social Media
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