A recent Finnish study sheds light on the significant role that limiting screen time and encouraging physical activity can play in safeguarding children’s mental health as they enter adolescence. With mental health problems affecting up to 30% of young people, the study’s findings offer a potential solution to this growing societal challenge.
The research, conducted by the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä and the Institute of Biomedicine at the University of Eastern Finland, followed 187 adolescents over a span of eight years. The results indicate that children who spent more time on screens—especially mobile devices—were more likely to experience higher levels of stress and depressive symptoms in their teenage years. Conversely, those who engaged in higher levels of physical activity and participated in organized sports exhibited lower levels of stress and fewer depressive symptoms.
However, the study found that the link between physical activity and depressive symptoms was not as strong as the connection between screen time and mental health issues. Adolescents who had both high screen time and low physical activity were found to have the highest levels of stress and depressive symptoms, underlining the compounded effect of sedentary behavior and excessive screen exposure.
The study aligns with several international recommendations that suggest limiting children’s and adolescents’ leisure screen time to a maximum of two hours per day. Dr. Eero Haapala, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, notes, “Personally, I think that even this figure is high, as it amounts to almost one month of screen time per year.”
The findings emphasize the importance of promoting healthy lifestyle habits from an early age. Encouraging children to engage in physical activity while also setting reasonable limits on screen time could play a pivotal role in preventing mental health challenges later in life.
“The modern sedentary lifestyle, with high screen exposure, challenges the mental health of children and adolescents,” says Dr. Haapala. He further adds that while discussions around screen time and social media have gained attention, this study aims to encourage adults involved in young people’s lives to promote a broader spectrum of healthy habits—especially balancing screen time and physical activity.
Dr. Haapala stresses the importance of collaboration to bring about change. “Achieving change requires collaboration. Society as a whole—from families to policymakers—must invest in promoting healthy lifestyles for children and adolescents by ensuring balanced screen time, sufficient physical activity, adequate sleep, and a nutritious diet.”
This research is part of the PANIC Study, which is focused on investigating major cardiometabolic diseases at the University of Eastern Finland. By integrating genetics, genomics, and lifestyle interventions, the research community aims to provide robust evidence on disease mechanisms, advance early diagnosis, prevention, and personalized treatment, and ultimately improve public health outcomes.
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