Do Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Use Screens More? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract

Background: Our aim in conducting this review was to investigate whether children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit differences in screen time when compared to children and adolescents with typical development.

Method: The study protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database. Databases and gray literature were screened. Studies that compared screen time between children and adolescents with ADHD and those with typical development were included and critically evaluated with the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Meta-analyses were performed considering screen time ≥2 hours/day or its mean (hours/day). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was applied for evaluating the certainty of the evidence. Twenty-two studies were included.

Results: In total, 235 283 children and adolescents of both sexes were evaluated. ADHD was diagnosed clinically or based on caregiver reporting, and different screen types were reported. With a low and very low certainty of evidence, children and adolescents with ADHD were more likely to spend ≥2 hours/day during the week with computers and screens in general and had a higher mean screen time (p < .05). ADHD medication did not seem to influence these results.

Conclusions: Children and adolescents with ADHD spent more time during weekdays using screens and were therefore more likely to exhibit excessive screen and computer use.