Summary:
This longitudinal study used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a large US research project that follows children over time, to examine whether screen time was associated with ADHD symptoms and brain development. This paper examined whether screen time was related to ADHD symptoms and brain development in children over time. The analysis included 10,116 children aged 9-10 years at baseline and 7,880 at a two-year follow-up. Screen use, ADHD symptoms, and brain structure were assessed, as well as whether greater screen time predicted later changes in symptoms. This study also examined whether brain structure helped explain the association between screen time and ADHD symptoms. This study found that children who spent more time on screens tended to show slightly more ADHD symptoms. It also found small differences in parts of the brain involved in thinking, attention, and self-control. The researchers also found that brain structure may explain a small part of the link between screen time and ADHD symptoms. Overall, the study suggests that more screen time may be linked to slightly higher ADHD-related behaviours and small differences in brain development.
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Abstract:
The association among screen time, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom development, and brain structure, and the neural mechanisms underlying the association between screen time and ADHD symptoms remain unclear. This study examines the relationships between the three using large-scale longitudinal data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Data on screen time, ADHD symptoms (measured via the Child Behavior Checklist), and brain structure were extracted from 10,116 children at baseline (ages 9–10) and 7880 children at a two-year follow-up. A linear mixed-effects model was used to assess the association between baseline screen time and changes in ADHD symptoms and brain structure after two years. Additionally, the mediating role of brain structure on the association between screen time and ADHD symptoms was examined. The results showed that screen time was associated with increased ADHD symptoms (β = 0.032, p = 0.001) and reduced cortical thickness in specific regions (right temporal pole: β = −0.036, false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected p = 0.020; left superior frontal gyrus: β = −0.028, FDR-corrected p = 0.020; and left rostral middle frontal gyrus: β = −0.030, FDR-corrected p = 0.020). Total cortical volume partially mediated the relationship between screen time and ADHD symptoms (β = 0.001, p = 0.023) at baseline. These findings suggest that screen time is associated with ADHD symptoms and brain structure, as well as their development, potentially providing insights into the neural mechanisms underlying the association between screen time and ADHD symptomatology.
Article Publication Date: 31/10/2025
DOI: 10.1038/s41398-025-03672-1
