Written by Shannon Markus
Spoon Feed
After 48 hours of brain rest, moderate recreational screen time may support better psychological recovery post-concussion compared to restrictive or excessive use.
Blinded by the light––the screen time sweet spot
This prospective longitudinal cohort study investigated the relationship between recreational screen time (ST) use and psychological symptoms in adolescents following concussion. Sixty-two concussed participants (ages 12–17.9) were assessed at 10 days and 3 months post-injury using the Children’s Depression Rating Scale and the Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Emotional Disorders, and three distinct screen time groups were identified (low, moderate, high use). Mixed-effects and regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and pubertal status, examined changes over time, and between-group differences compared with healthy controls. Results showed that at 10 days, all groups reported higher depressive and anxiety symptoms than controls (p < 0.041). At 3 months, moderate ST use (~5 h/day) was associated with significant improvement in depression and anxiety, while high ST use predicted persistent depressive symptoms (p = 0.001) and low ST use predicted persistent anxiety (p < 0.001). Findings suggest a “Goldilocks” effect—moderate recreational screen time may support better psychological recovery post-concussion compared to restrictive or excessive use.
How does this change my practice?
For years, I’ve recommended “brain rest” for at least 24 hours after concussion, but I’ve often felt uncertain answering follow-up questions about what comes next. This helps me formulate clearer guidance on what to do beyond the simple “no screens” advice for the acute phase. We know that adolescents who engage in screen-based activities during the first two days after a concussion tend to have a longer recovery. The fact that symptoms were similar across all groups right after injury seems to reflect the universal impact of concussion on emotions (no one is unscathed!). Practically speaking, when considering longer-term recovery, anxious teens may benefit from maintaining some social connection through moderate screen or social media use, while excessive use remains linked to depressive symptoms, even in non-concussed patients.
Source
Effects of Screen Time Use on Psychological Symptoms in Adolescents Following Concussion. J Neurotrauma. 2025 Sep 30. doi: 10.1177/08977151251385568. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41027657.
