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World J Clin Pediatr. Mar 9, 2026; 15(1): 111652
Published online Mar 9, 2026. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v15.i1.111652
Published online Mar 9, 2026. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v15.i1.111652
Screen time in preschool-aged children and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-related behaviors: A literature review
Tungki Pratama Umar, Department of Medical Profession, Faculty of Medicine, Sriwijaya University, Palembang 30114, Indonesia
Aulia Wiratama Putra, Department of Medical Profession, Faculty of Medicine, Trisakti University, Jakarta 11440, Indonesia
Devin Mahendika, Department of Medical Profession, Faculty of Medicine, Andalas University, Padang 25163, Indonesia
Maureen Miracle Stella, Kevin Tandarto, Department of Medical Profession, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta 14440, Indonesia
Author contributions: Umar TP concept, acquisition, and interpretation of data, literature review, manuscript writing, manuscript editing, and revising the article critically for important intellectual content; Putra AW literature review and manuscript writing, Mahendika D literature review and manuscript writing, Stella MM literature review and manuscript writing, Tandarto K literature review and manuscript writing. All authors approved the final manuscript for publication.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Tungki Pratama Umar, Department of Medical Profession, Faculty of Medicine, Sriwijaya University, Dr. Moh. Ali Street, Palembang 30114, Indonesia.
Received: July 6, 2025
Revised: August 7, 2025
Accepted: October 28, 2025
Published online: March 9, 2026
Processing time: 244 Days and 16.1 Hours
Revised: August 7, 2025
Accepted: October 28, 2025
Published online: March 9, 2026
Processing time: 244 Days and 16.1 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Screen time has long been believed to cause many behavioral problems in children, particularly in the form of autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the correlation is not unidirectional but bidirectional. In ADHD cases, screen time may be a promoting factor for ADHD development; however, subjects with ADHD also have a tendency to spend more time in front of the screen since it is associated with the instantaneous reward provided by the screen, particularly in video games. This review discusses the bidirectional nature of screen time and ADHD along with several mechanisms underlying this correlation.