San Pablo City Science Integrated High School

Barangay San Jose, San Pablo City, Laguna

The Effects of Too Much Use of Gadgets in a Child’s Physical and Mental Health

Allyzah L. Anenias

Research Proponent

Ms. Romaly Ariadna Minorka R. Itong

Research Advisor

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The use of mobile gadgets all over the world is increasing year by year. In present times, not

just adults have excessive use of gadgets but also children and this causes the parents to raise
questions and concerns, worrying that it can affect their child’s physical and mental health.

Today’s technology-dependent global population is constantly adapting to an unhealthy lifestyle,

putting them at risk for developing severe diseases and mental disorders. In regards to the

situation in Asia, a previous study was conducted in six different countries located in Asia which

concluded from the data they gathered that the adolescent cohort aged 12 to 18 years held 62%

ownership of smartphones overall.

The effects were more on young children than other age cohorts. According to the US Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention, an average child spent their time watching on electronic

gadgets by 8 hours per day. One of the reasons why a child lacks productivity is because of too

much screen time, lack of sleep and unhealthy eating. In worst cases, teens are driven into

doing activities defying rules, becoming rules delinquents. Studies also prove that excessive use

of gadgets in their early teenage years can result in different types of psychological disorders,

like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as some physiological complications

like obesity, myopia, dryness, blurring vision, headache, etc. (John Wiley & Sons, 1999-2022).

In terms of the effect on physical health, people who excessively use electronics tend to develop

musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, muscle/ tendon strain.

The repetitive strain injury is a chronic condition that develops because of repetitive, forceful,

and some awkward hand movements for prolonged periods that leads to damage the muscles,

tendons, and the nerves located in the neck, shoulder, forearms and hands which can cause

aching, deficiency, paralysis, or loss of function of the nervous system. Eyes, neck muscles,

arm and wrist are also affected with too much use of electronic gadgets. People who use

smartphones excessively are likely to have a feeling that their social relationships are not active

compared to the others and rewarding that they are not actively contributing to the happiness

and well-being of others because of their lack of face-to-face interactions to the other people

(BioMed Central Ltd, 2021).

After a particular time, the parents of the child will be having a hard time discarding their

children mobile gadget addiction that leads to harm their growth and behavior so it is necessary

to help your children reduce their screen time and help them by spending times with your kids

because kids mostly get their obsession when no one is or are guiding them, one of the

proposed solution to reduce the use of gadgets is, introduce them with enjoyable outdoor

activities because the more you force the child to quit doing it, the more that the child will

continue to do it, instead of forcing them, take them out on an outdoor places and introduce

them to a lot of exciting games that will keep them distracted on using gadgets and make them

learn new thing they were not knew before such as cycling, doing arts, cooking, etc. (My Tech

Sense, 2022)

There are some related studies that can support this study such as the article “Negative Effects

of Technology”. It is stated in there that the effect of excessive use of electronic gadgets in

physical health are eyestrain, poor posture, sleep problems, reduced physical activity and in

mental health are isolation, depression, and starts to have an anxiety (Healthline Media UK Ltd,

Brington, UK, a Red Ventures Company, 2004-4022)

Statement Of The Objectives

This study aims to determine the effects of too much use of gadgets to a child’s physical and

mental health. This study also aims to attains the following:

O¹: The impact of excessive use of electronic devices in a child’s physical and mental health

O²: To determine of how bad can a child’s health can be by being addicted to mobile gadgets

O³: To test if the proposed solution will be effective

References

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hsr2.388#:~:text=Studies%20also%20prove

%20that%20the,blurring%20vision%2C%20headache%2C%20etc.
https://ejim.springeropen.com/articles/10.4103/ejim.ejim_56_19

https://mytechsense.com/ways-to-reduce-gadget-addiction/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/negative-effects-of-

technology#psychological-effects