Great relationship with screens = bad relationship with people?
With all the technological advances, it’s pretty common nowadays to see teenagers spending hours in front of the t.v. or computer. According to a report in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine journal, teens who spend more time in front of screens have poorer relationships with their parents and peers.
Overall, the more time teens spent watching television or playing on a computer, the more difficulty they had forming a relationship or emotional bond with parents. The risk of having low attachment to parents increased 4% for every hour spent viewing television and 5% for every housr spent playing on a computer. On the other hand, teens who spent more time reading and doing homework reported a higher level of attachment to parents.
There are several possible underlying reasons for these correlations. Teens that have televisions in their bedroom usually spend more time watching and even tend to miss more meals with family. Looking at this from a different perspective, it’s possible that teens who already have poor attachment skills or relationships with friends and family might turn to the electronic world to create new attachment figures like online friendships or t.v. personalities.
Just because the technology is there doesn’t mean it should be exploited! There is still something to be said for going outside with friends and romping in the woods or riding bikes. One can only hope that doesn’t become a lost art.
