Depression Signals

Screen Time and Suicidal Behaviors Among U.S. Children 9–11: A Prospective Cohort Study

Published in the journal Preventive Medicine, this prospective cohort study followed a large sample of U.S. children ages 9–11 over time to see whether screen time was associated with later suicidal behaviors, including suicidal ideation and attempts. Children with higher baseline screen time were more likely to report suicidal behaviors at follow-up than children with lower screen time, even after the researchers accounted for other measured factors. Because the study tracked the same children over time rather than comparing them at one moment, it offers a stronger design than a single snapshot survey — but the authors are clear that suicidal behavior in children has many contributing causes, and screen time is one associated risk factor among several, not a standalone cause. TechKids Foundation cites this study as one of the stronger pieces of evidence linking heavy screen time in younger children to elevated self-harm risk over time.