Page No: 30-39
Shilpa Rawat
Akal University, Talwandi Sabo, Bhatinda
Shivani Rawat
Jamia Hamdard (HIMSR)
This study investigates the cognitive impact of screen time on emerging adults (ages
18-25), focusing on moderating factors such as sleep quality, physical activity, and
screen engagement type. A quasi-experimental, cross-sectional design was employed
with 1,000 participants who self-reported their daily screen time, sleep quality, physical
activity, and cognitive performance. The findings showed that too much screen time
has a detrimental effect on cognitive function, with people who used screens more
frequently experiencing higher levels of cognitive tiredness and a significant decline in
cognitive function. In particular, 30% of people who reported using screens for more
than six hours a day showed signs of severe cognitive impairment, mainly when it
came to concentration and memory tests—active screen time, such as using
educational apps and engaging in problem-solving tasks, had a more favourable effect
on cognitive outcomes compared to passive screen time activities like social media
browsing and video streaming. 60% of those engaging in active screen time performed
better on memory and attention tasks. Sleep quality was found to moderate the
relationship between screen time and cognitive performance, with participants with
poor sleep quality showing a 15% greater decline in cognitive performance related to
excessive screen use. Physical activity significantly lessened the impact of screen
time on cognitive function; those who exercised frequently showed a 10% reduction in
the cognitive decline linked to excessive screen time. Significantly more significant
levels of cognitive exhaustion were also indicated by the fact that 45% of people who
used screens for more than six hours a day reported feeling extremely exhausted.
Cultural differences showed that people from collectivist cultures experienced more
significant emotional and cognitive strain related to screen use than people from
individualistic cultures. However, demographic factors like age and gender did not
significantly moderate these relationships. These findings emphasize the need to manage
screen time, promote physical activity, and encourage good sleep hygiene to support
cognitive health in emerging adults. The results suggest that a balanced approach to
screen time, particularly in educational contexts, may help reduce potential cognitive
costs associated with excessive screen exposure