Excessive screen use harms sleep, mental health of Dhaka children: icddr,b

A new study by icddr,b has found alarmingly high levels of screen time among schoolchildren in Dhaka, raising concerns over sleep deprivation, obesity, headaches, eye problems and mental health issues.

The study found that more than 83% of children spend over two hours on screens every day, exceeding the internationally recommended limit for recreational screen use.

On average, children spent around 4.6 hours daily on smartphones, televisions, tablets, computers and gaming devices.

Researchers conducted the study between 2022 and 2024 among 420 children aged between 6 and 14 years from six schools in Dhaka, including three Bangla-medium and three English-medium institutions.

According to an icddr,b press release, the journal JMIR Human Factors recently published the findings.

Researchers examined children’s screen-use behaviour, sleep quality, physical symptoms, body weight, behaviour and mental wellbeing through face-to-face interviews, physical measurements and internationally recognised assessment tools.

The study found that more than one-third of the children suffered from eye problems, while nearly 80% frequently experienced headaches.

Researchers also identified a strong link between excessive screen time and poor sleep quality, behavioural changes and increased risks of obesity.

The findings showed that children who spent longer hours on screens displayed higher levels of emotional distress, reduced physical activity and lower overall wellbeing.

Health experts involved in the research urged parents, schools and policymakers to take immediate steps to promote healthier digital habits among children.

They recommended limiting recreational screen use, encouraging outdoor activities and ensuring balanced daily routines to protect children’s physical and mental health.