The American Psychologic Association (APA) just released a report that looks at self-reported rates of anxiety from a survey of 3,511 adults in the United States. They found that almost 90% say that they either often check or constantly check their emails, texts and social media accounts. They call this 90% group “constant checkers (CC).” The CC group report higher anxiety levels than the people who report checking their devices less often.
For some, constant checking itself can be a stressful act. CCs are more likely to say that constantly checking devices is a stressful aspect of technology, compared to non-constant checkers. Social media also negatively affects a greater proportion of CCs compared with those who do not check as frequently.
Even with this data, it is hard to know how much checking of our devices is causing anxiety and how much is actually relieving anxiety.
Larry Rosen, author of The Distracted Mind, makes an interesting point about anxiety and constant checking. In a Psychology Today article he says the following:
“If.. you do an activity and feel a sense of relief that you did not miss out on something ‘going around,’...then this is most likely a sign of obsession. An obsession …is built around performing an act that reduces your feeling of anxiety.”
Looking for a first step to quelling your urge to check? This Friday from sundown March 3rd to sundown March 4th is The National Day of Unplugging. Will you join the 40,000 plus people who have committed to unplugging for these 24 hours?
For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let’s talk about whether we (or our kids) are “constant checkers.”
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
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The American Psychologic Association (APA) just released a report that looks at self-reported rates of anxiety from a survey of 3,511 adults in the United States. They found that almost 90% say that they either often check or constantly check their emails, texts and social media accounts. They call this 90% group “constant checkers (CC).” The CC group report higher anxiety levels than the people who report checking their devices less often.
For some, constant checking itself can be a stressful act. CCs are more likely to say that constantly checking devices is a stressful aspect of technology, compared to non-constant checkers. Social media also negatively affects a greater proportion of CCs compared with those who do not check as frequently.
Even with this data, it is hard to know how much checking of our devices is causing anxiety and how much is actually relieving anxiety.
Larry Rosen, author of The Distracted Mind, makes an interesting point about anxiety and constant checking. In a Psychology Today article he says the following:
“If.. you do an activity and feel a sense of relief that you did not miss out on something ‘going around,’...then this is most likely a sign of obsession. An obsession …is built around performing an act that reduces your feeling of anxiety.”
Looking for a first step to quelling your urge to check? This Friday from sundown March 3rd to sundown March 4th is The National Day of Unplugging. Will you join the 40,000 plus people who have committed to unplugging for these 24 hours?
For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let’s talk about whether we (or our kids) are “constant checkers.”
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Sign up here to receive the weekly Tech Talk Tuesdays newsletter from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD.
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The American Psychologic Association (APA) just released a report that looks at self-reported rates of anxiety from a survey of 3,511 adults in the United States. They found that almost 90% say that they either often check or constantly check their emails, texts and social media accounts. They call this 90% group “constant checkers (CC).” The CC group report higher anxiety levels than the people who report checking their devices less often.
For some, constant checking itself can be a stressful act. CCs are more likely to say that constantly checking devices is a stressful aspect of technology, compared to non-constant checkers. Social media also negatively affects a greater proportion of CCs compared with those who do not check as frequently.
Even with this data, it is hard to know how much checking of our devices is causing anxiety and how much is actually relieving anxiety.
Larry Rosen, author of The Distracted Mind, makes an interesting point about anxiety and constant checking. In a Psychology Today article he says the following:
“If.. you do an activity and feel a sense of relief that you did not miss out on something ‘going around,’...then this is most likely a sign of obsession. An obsession …is built around performing an act that reduces your feeling of anxiety.”
Looking for a first step to quelling your urge to check? This Friday from sundown March 3rd to sundown March 4th is The National Day of Unplugging. Will you join the 40,000 plus people who have committed to unplugging for these 24 hours?
For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let’s talk about whether we (or our kids) are “constant checkers.”
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Many adults keep their phones by the bed — it feels harmless, even necessary. But what if that habit is quietly affecting our sleep and the example we set for our kids? In this week’s blog, Dr. Ruston shares two key things every parent should know about sleeping next to a phone, and how small nighttime tech changes can make a big difference for the whole family.
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From Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto to violence and gunfire in movies and shows, aggression is a constant backdrop in boys’ media diets. And with various influencers and online personalities framing success through the lens of strength, competition, dominance and winning, boys are being handed a narrow script for masculinity. As parents, one of the most important things we can do is offer a counterweight. We can help boys strengthen empathy, compassion, and respect as core traits of masculinity, so they have a broader, healthier vision of who they can become.
READ MORE >
Last week we introduced you to our Screen-Free Sleep campaign! Since then, we’ve been flooded with emails and calls, and most are asking the same question: How can we get this spreading in our school? Today’s blog has the answers.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
