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Research Paper | Information Technology | Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026 | Pages: 1116 - 1122 | India
Impact of Screen Time on Adolescent Mental and Physical Health
Abstract: Screens have become inseparable from adolescent life, serving as tools for learning, communication and entertainment. Yet the sharp rise in daily screen use has prompted growing concern about its effect on the developing mind and body. This paper reviews the impact of screen time on adolescent mental and physical health, examining patterns of use, the principal mental-health associations (disturbed sleep, anxiety, low mood and problematic use) and physical consequences (sedentary behaviour, weight gain, digital eye strain and musculoskeletal strain). It maps the mechanisms that link heavy use to these outcomes and presents a balanced view in which the quality, content and context of screen use matter as much as its quantity. The paper proposes a practical digital-wellbeing framework built on limits, active breaks, tech-free zones and regular reflection, and closes with evidence-informed recommendations and directions for future research. Throughout, correlation is distinguished carefully from causation, since most current evidence is observational.
Keywords: screen time, adolescents, mental health, physical health, sleep, social media, sedentary behaviour, digital wellbeing
How to Cite?: Ciona Dewan, Raghu Raja Mehra, "Impact of Screen Time on Adolescent Mental and Physical Health", Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1116-1122, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26620171402, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26620171402