High Screen Exposure and Its Association With Physical and Mental Well-Being Among School-Going Children and Adolescents in Bangladesh: Cross-Sectional Study.
Kakon S, Soron T, et al. • JMIR human factors • 2026
High screen exposure (more than 2 hours per day) was associated with eye problems, headaches, poor sleep quality, obesity, and greater mental health problems among school-going children and adolescents in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Key Findings
Results
The majority of school-going children and adolescents in the study were in the high screen exposure group, averaging 4.6 hours of screen time per day.
Total sample: 420 students aged 6 to 14 years enrolled from 6 schools in Dhaka (3 English-language and 3 Bangla-language).
83.3% (350/420) of students were in the high-exposure group (more than 2 hours per day).
Average screen time in the high-exposure group was 4.6 (SD 2.3) hours per day.
Study was conducted from July 2022 to June 2024 using stratified random sampling.
Low-exposure group was defined as less than 2 hours of screen time per day.
Results
Eye problems were reported by 35.7% of students and were significantly more prevalent in the high-exposure group.
150 out of 420 students (35.7%) reported eye problems.
96% (144/150) of students with eye problems were from the high-exposure group, while only 4% (6/150) were from the low-exposure group.
A statistically significant difference was found between the low- and high-exposure groups for eye problems.
Data were collected using a semistructured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements.
Results
Headaches were reported by 80% of students and were more common in the high-exposure group.
336 out of 420 students (80%) reported headaches.
83% (279/336) of students reporting headaches were from the high-exposure group.
Headaches were described as common in the high-exposure group.
Results
Students in the high-exposure group had shorter duration and poorer quality of sleep, a statistically significant finding.
Mean sleep duration in the high-exposure group was 7.3 (SD 1.4) hours, described as short duration and poor quality.
Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index validated in Bangla.
The difference in sleep between the low- and high-exposure groups was statistically significant.
Results
Obesity was more predominant in the high-exposure group.
The association between obesity and high screen exposure was statistically significant (P<.001).
Anthropometric measurements were used to assess obesity.
This finding was identified alongside other physical health outcomes in the high-exposure group.
Results
Overall, 31% of students had at least one mental health problem, and mental health problems were greater in the high-exposure group.
130 out of 420 students (31%) had at least one mental health problem as measured by the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) scale validated in Bangla.
9.8% (41/420) of students had more than one mental health problem.
Mental health problems were greater in the high-exposure group than the low-exposure group.
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), also validated in Bangla, was used alongside the DAWBA.
Results
Behavioral problems including conduct issues and peer difficulties were observed among participants, but no statistically significant difference was found between the two screen exposure groups.
Conduct issues were observed in 28.3% (119/420) of participants.
Peer difficulties were observed in 28.8% (121/420) of participants.
No statistically significant difference was found between the low- and high-exposure groups for these behavioral problems.
Behavioral problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.
What This Means
This research suggests that most school-age children in Dhaka, Bangladesh are spending far more time on screens than recommended guidelines advise. Among 420 children aged 6 to 14 studied over two years, more than 8 in 10 were in the 'high exposure' category, meaning they spent more than 2 hours per day on screens, with an average of about 4.6 hours daily. Children in this high-exposure group were significantly more likely to report eye problems, headaches, poor and shorter sleep, and obesity compared to children with lower screen exposure.
The study also found notable mental health concerns: nearly one-third of all students had at least one mental health problem, and those problems were more common among high screen users. However, specific behavioral issues like conduct problems and difficulties with peers were common across both groups, suggesting these may not be solely linked to screen time. The study used standardized, validated assessment tools to measure sleep quality and mental health, strengthening the reliability of these findings.
This research suggests that high screen time among children in Bangladesh is widespread and is associated with a range of physical and mental health concerns. The authors call for coordinated guidelines and policies to promote healthier digital habits for children, and note that larger, longer-term studies are needed to better understand the full impact of screen time on children's health and development.
Kakon S, Soron T, Hossain M, Hossain B, Tofail F, Haque R. (2026). High Screen Exposure and Its Association With Physical and Mental Well-Being Among School-Going Children and Adolescents in Bangladesh: Cross-Sectional Study.. JMIR human factors. https://doi.org/10.2196/73524