Impact of screen exposure during pediatric ages including multifaceted aggravating factors: a literature review

Technological devices with screens-such as computers, smartphones, tablets, video game consoles, and televisions-have become essential in daily life, especially among the pediatric population. This widespread use has significant effects on their physical and mental health, prompting the development of guidelines for appropriate screen use based on age group. In this context, we conducted a narrative review to assess the impact of screen devices on this population, exploring how specific genes and their polymorphisms may act as risk factors for these effects. A systematic literature search was performed to evaluate the clinical and genetic impact of screen exposure, focusing on outcomes such as obesity and overweight, sedentary behavior, depression and anxiety, myopia, behavioral disorders, and sleep and memory disturbances. The findings indicate that screen exposure exceeding 2 hours per day is associated with these outcomes, with the strongest evidence supporting links to obesity and sedentary behavior. Additionally, polymorphisms in genes such as FTO, CACNA1D, and DRD2 were found to influence these outcomes. Overall, the evidence suggests that excessive screen use during childhood is associated with numerous adverse physical and mental health conditions. There is a significant relationship between screen time and increased risk of overweight and obesity, as well as sleep disturbances due to reduced resting hours. Strategies are urgently needed to mitigate these impacts in the pediatric population.