Correlation Analysis of Screen Exposure to Academic Performance, Anxiety, and Behavioral Problems Among School Children in Greater Noida, India

Background: /Objectives: The growth of the digital landscape has surely outpaced the research on the effects of screen media on children's health, learning, and development. The potential risk-to-benefit ratio of screen media exposure for education. and entertainment purposes warrant further exploration. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between screen time and academic performance, anxiety, and outdoor playing among school children in India Methods: 537 parents responded to this online survey and reported about 537 Indian schoolchildren (mean age 10.9 years) from 5 schools. The e-questionnaire contained demographic profile information, self-reported height and weight, academic performance, and screen time-related data. The anxiety and behavioral status of the children were assessed using the Spencer Children Anxiety Scale (SCAS) and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (Parent Version) instruments, respectively. Results: The mean screen time was 3.06 ±1.22 hours/day, average outdoor playing per week was 11.23 ± 4.1 hours per week, and the mean BMI was 18.2±3.2. The screen time (hours) in a typical week was positively correlated with BMI, SCAS anxiety score, behavioral problems, and academic performance in the linear regression analysis. Conclusions: We conclude that screen time was associated with increased BMI, behavioral problems, and poor academic performance. Further research is necessary to rule out the influence of other intricate factors, such as sleep and parental involvement. The careful use of digital media must serve as a positive force in children's educational and developmental trajectories.