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Be sure to watch Dr. Kanner's award winning show on San Diego 6 News In The Morning this Monday, June 8th @ 8:20am.
Background: Over the
past few years, children and adolescent cell phone interests and
desires have become intense, where a recent statistic shows that two
out of every five youths in the U.S. between the ages of eight and
eighteen own a cell phone. Furthermore, students in grades seven
through twelve spend an average of an hour a day on their cell phones,
which is about the same amount of time this age group spends on
homework. Due to the convenience and size of cell phones, it is almost
as if it serves as a mobile means of "instant messaging" (IMing) their
friends when away from their computers.
Two important questions come to mind. First, why do children and
adolescents wish to spend so much time on their cellular phones? and
second, is there a connection between amount of time spent on these
phones and negative consequences or pathological indications? In
reference to the first question, children and adolescents are social
creatures and because of developmental needs and changes desire
frequent contact with their friends. As mentioned in previous segments,
once a child reaches school age ( 6 or 7), they are attempting to
become more independent from their parents and turn to their friends
for support and love, especially during times of distress. This helps
us understand why many youths wish to communicate frequently which is
not necessarily a negative sign, as long as the communication does not
interfere with important tasks of the youth, such as paying attention
in class or getting their homework finished. Furthermore, the use of
"text messaging" is similar to the dynamics involving "instant
messaging". Here, communication is made with less direct social
interaction and without having to speak which for many is less
anxiety-provoking that face to face or ear to ear means of contact.
Referencing the question concerning amount of time spent on these
phones, a recent study presented at a meeting of the American
Psychiatric Association, actually found some interesting findings.
According to this study and one other from South Korea, a correlation
was determined by the amount of time spent of these phones and clinical
symptoms of depression and anxiety. Correlation's were also found
between amount of time on the phone and issues related to self-esteem
and self-identity. In one of the studies involving 575 high school
students, clinical significance related to depression, anxiety, and
self-esteem issues were evident when this group used their phones more
than 90 times a day as compared to students who were on the phone 70
times or less per day. Here, it almost seems that over-cell phone use
can be used as a measure of mental health.
Aside from the potential use of cell phone behaviors as an indicator of
mental health, these phone can also be distractions from important
activities that our children and adolescents need to accomplish, such
as paying attention in class, and getting their homework completed. On
the other hand however, peer communication, when not in the extreme, is
an important sign of normal mental health. It seems to be a matter of
degree of appropriate usage.
In conclusion, "the teen obsession with yakking, text messaging, and
ring tone swapping on their cell phones might mean more than mere
distraction and a whopping phone bill." According to these recent
studies, over-usage can be a sign of unhappiness or anxiety and parents
need to be aware of these dynamics and findings.
Key Points:
1. over-usage might indicate depression/anxiety or low self-esteem
2. cell phones can be too distracting at times
3. place limits on usage if necessary
4. consider a "time-off" period where cell phones are turned off at the same time each day and night to help kids remain focused
Dr. Keith Kanner
Show Host
Your Family Matters
San Diego 6 News
San Diego Living Show
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About drkanner
Dr. Kanner is a Licensed Clinical Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychologist and Psychoanalyst with a full time private practice in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at U.C. San Diego and a Clinical Instructor and Supervisor at the San Diego Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. Recently, he has become the Director of Clinical Counseling for La Jolla Country Day School and has been named to the National Board of Directors for KidsKorps, USA. He continues as a Consultant for many public and private schools in San Diego and has also received distinguished teaching awards over the past seven years. He is a published author and a sought after speaker on topics pertaining to childhood, adolescence, and parenthood. He is also presently writing a book for Fox based on his show, Your Family Matters.
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