LONDON, June 11: A major international study involving nearly 300,000 children has found a two-way relationship between screen time and children's emotional and social well-being.

According to the study, children who spend more time using devices such as televisions, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles are more likely to develop emotional and behavioral issues, including aggression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

Researchers also found the reverse to be true: children already experiencing emotional or social challenges were more likely to spend increased time on screens. The findings were published Monday in the Psychological Bulletin, an academic journal.

Time spent on gaming consoles, in particular, was more strongly associated with these issues than other forms of screen use.

"Rather than breaking it down by the exact game people were playing, it's safe to make some assumptions," said Dr. Michael Noetel, associate professor of psychology at The University of Queensland in Australia and one of the study’s authors.

He noted that the games analyzed included console, computer, and mobile games. When asked about violent games specifically, Noetel clarified that the study did not find a direct link between violent content and behavioral problems.

"Some studies broke the games down by whether they were violent, but our interpretation was that most parents knew to limit the amount of violent content to give kids under 10," he explained. "Instead, the key finding was that gaming in general — regardless of the specific type — showed much stronger links to emotional problems than other screen activities like watching TV or using educational apps."

The study, one of the most comprehensive of its kind, analyzed 117 long-term studies conducted between 1972 and 2024. It focused on children aged 10 and under, following them over time to help identify potential cause-and-effect relationships.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children aged 2 to 5 should be limited to one hour of recreational screen time per weekday and no more than three hours on weekends. The study found that children who exceeded these guidelines were more likely to develop socioemotional difficulties.

"More than 40% of kids aged 8 to 12 are using screens for more than four hours per day," said Dr. Tara Narula, chief medical correspondent for ABC News, during an appearance on "Good Morning America." "When you add the rising rates of mental health disorders in kids — half of which begin before age 14 — it becomes clear why understanding the effects of screen time is crucial."

Despite the concerning findings, researchers stressed that the goal for parents should not be to eliminate screen use entirely. Moderate, educational screen use was associated with a lower risk of future emotional or social problems.

Instead, the study encouraged parents to help children avoid using screens as their sole emotional outlet. Encouraging social interaction with family and peers, ensuring sufficient sleep, and promoting physical activity were also highlighted as essential.

"We've all been guilty of it, but it's OK to say no and to set limits and boundaries — and to do so in a noncontrolling way as a parent, if you can," Narula added.