Conduct problems, hyperactivity, and screen time among community youth: can mindfulness help? an exploratory study

Soyeon Kim; Stephanie Munten; Nathan J Kolla; Barna Konkolÿ Thege

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1248963

Conduct problems, hyperactivity, and screen time among community youth: can mindfulness help? an exploratory study

Front Psychiatry. 2024 Apr 9:15:1248963. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1248963. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Soyeon Kim^{1

2}, Stephanie Munten¹, Nathan J Kolla^{1

3

4

5}, Barna Konkolÿ Thege^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, ON, Canada.
² Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
³ Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.

Abstract

Background: The influence of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) programs on behavioural problems among community youth is largely understudied. While technology continues to evolve and the prevalence of screen-based activities is rising, limited studies have accounted for screen time when examining the efficacy of an MBI. Accordingly, this study investigated the impact of MBI on conduct problems and hyperactivity among community youth, accounting for sociodemographic characteristics and four types of screen time.

Method: Linear regression models were used to investigate 1) the association between four types of screen time and behavioural problems (i.e., conduct problems and hyperactivity) and 2) the efficacy of online mindfulness programs in reducing behavioural problems among community youth. The data were collected at baseline, intervention completion and 1-month follow-up (Spring 2021 to Spring 2022) in Ontario, Canada (n=117, mean age=16.82, male=22%, non-White=21%).

Results: The average score for conduct problems was within the normal range, while the average score for hyperactivity was considered borderline at baseline. Accounting for other types of screen time, time spent playing video games was significantly associated with increased conduct problems (β= 1.75, p=.03), albeit rendering non-significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. The online mindfulness program was significantly associated with reduced hyperactivity, controlling for baseline mental health, age, sex and screen time.

Conclusion: The current findings suggest a 12-week online mindfulness program may play a positive role in reducing hyperactivity even when accounting for screen time. Our findings advocate the evidence base on the efficacy of MBI in managing hyperactivity.

Keywords: conduct problems; hyperactivity; mindfulness; screen time; youth.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by an Insight Development Grant funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (Award # 430-2020-00288) and the Bell Community Fund Grant.