Teenage relationships negatively affected by TV and computers

The relationships teenagers have with their friends and family is negatively impacted by how much they watch TV and use computers, a study has found.

The report in the March issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found the quality of teen relationships was affected by how much 'screen time' they used.

The authors of the study studied 3,043 adolescents aged 14 to 15 in 2004. The teens completed a confidential questionnaire about their free-time habits, as well as an assessment of their attachment to parents and peers.

It was found that the more time teens spent watching television or playing on a computer the more likely they were to report low attachment to parents.

The risk of having low attachment to parents increased four per cent for every hour spent viewing television and five per cent for every hour spent playing on a computer.

Those teens who spent more time reading and doing homework reported a higher level of attachment to their parents on the other hand.

"Recommendations that children watch less television are sometimes met with the concern that being unable to discuss popular shows or characters may inhibit peer relationships," the authors write.

"The findings herein do not suggest that less television viewing is detrimental to adolescent friendships."

"Given the importance of attachment to parents and peers in adolescent health and development, concern about high levels of screen time among adolescents is warranted," they conclude.