A rise in tantrums: Why young children's screen use is causing anger and frustration

L'exposition précoce aux écrans entraine un dysfonctionnement de la régulation émotionnelle des enfants. freemixer/Getty Images

As children's use of mobile screens continues to increase, a Canadian study demonstrates their negative effects on emotional regulation, including the expression of anger and frustration.

A study, published in the journal JAMA Networks, reveals that early exposure to screens, particularly tablets, can lead to more anger and frustration in children as they grow up.

A 22% increase in anger levels

The researchers followed 315 children over several years, collecting reports from their parents when the children were 3.5 years old (in 2020), 4.5 years old (in 2021) and 5.5 years old (in 2022), respectively.

The results show that at age 3.5, daily tablet use of about 1.15 hours was associated with a 22% increase in anger and frustration levels a year later, at age 4.5. This trend continues for 4.5-year-olds, who also show increased expression of anger and frustration at 5.5 years.

Negative effects on emotion regulation

The study highlights the fact that tablets are often used by young children as a solitary, daily activity, or by parents to soothe and manage their children's emotions. While this method may seem practical in the short term, it can have long-term negative effects on children's ability to regulate their emotions.

In France, despite the recommendations of experts and the commission launched in May 2024 by Emmanuel Macron, which highlight the harmful effects of screens for children from the age of 3, and recommend “banning screens in the absence of parental interaction", according to the HCSP, many parents continue to use them for the sake of convenience. As a result, 45% of children spend their summer vacation car journeys in front of a screen.

Setting Limits

While adolescents are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of screen time and are trying to limit their addiction to social media, young children cannot self-regulate. It is therefore up to parents to put in place controls and limits.

"Our study suggests that parents should be made aware of the fact that tablet use from early childhood can disrupt the ability to manage anger and frustration, and lead to an increase in tantrums in young children," conclude the authors of the study.