Some screen time is better than no time during pediatric concussion recovery
Too much screen time can slow children’s recovery after a concussion, but new research from UBC and the University of Calgary suggests banning screen time isn’t the answer.
The researchers looked for links between the self-reported screen time of more than 700 children aged 8 to 16 in the first 7 to 10 days after an injury, and the symptoms they and their caregivers reported over the next six months.
The children whose concussion symptoms resolved the quickest had used a moderate amount of screen time. “We call this the ‘Goldilocks’ group because it appears that spending too little or too much time on screens is not ideal for concussion recovery,” said Dr. Molly Cairncross, an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University who conducted the study while working as a postdoctoral researcher with Associate Professor Dr. Noah Silverberg in UBC’s psychology department. “Our findings show that the blanket recommendation to avoid smartphones, computers and televisions as much as possible may not be best for children.”
The study was part of a larger concussion project called Advancing Concussion Assessment in Pediatrics (A-CAP), led by psychology professor Dr. Keith Yeates at the University of Calgary and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The data came from participants aged 8 to 16 who had suffered a concussion or orthopedic injury, such as a sprained ankle or a broken arm, and sought care at one of five emergency departments in Canada.
The purpose of including children with orthopedic injuries was to compare their recovery with the concussion group.
Patients in the concussion group tended to have relatively worse symptoms than their counterparts with orthopedic injuries inside in the concussion group, it was not simply a matter of symptoms worsening with increasing screen time. Children with minimal screen time also recovered more slowly.
“Children use smartphones and computers to stay connected with peers, so removing those screens completely can lead to feelings of disconnection, loneliness and not having social support,” said Dr. Cairncross. “These things are likely to have a negative impact on children’s mental health, which can make recovery take longer.”
The UBC/Cagary study differed from another study conducted in the US last year in that it tracked screen time and recovery over a longer period of time. The previous study found that screen time slowed recovery, but screen use was only measured in the first 48 hours and symptoms only for 10 days.
The longer timeline led to another interesting finding, described by Dr. Silverberg:
“The amount of time spent in front of screens during the early recovery period made little difference to long-term health outcomes.” he said. “After 30 days, children with a concussion or other type of injury reported similar symptoms regardless of their early screen use.”
The researchers also noted that screen time appeared to have less influence on symptoms than other factors such as the patient’s gender, age, sleep habits, physical activity, or pre-existing symptoms.
“Screen time didn’t make much of a difference compared to several other factors that we know can affect concussion recovery,” said Dr. Yeates. “Encouraging concussion patients to get good sleep and gradually engage in light physical activity will likely do much more for their recovery than keeping them off their smartphones.”
Ultimately, the findings suggest that blanket restrictions on screen time may not be helpful for children and adolescents with concussions. Instead, the researchers suggest using the same approach as with other activities, namely moderation. If symptoms flare up, screen time can always be limited.
