Relação entre o uso excessivo de telas e os sintomas de TDAH em crianças

Abstract

This study is an integrative literature review aimed at synthesizing current scientific evidence on the relationship between excessive screen time and the manifestation or severity of core symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children, evaluating its impacts on overall development. The methodology is based on the PRISMA 2020 protocol to ensure a systematic and transparent search, using the PICo model in formulating the guiding question. The search, covering the period from 2020 to 2025, was conducted in the Virtual Health Library (BVS), PubMed/MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria and performing a quantitative-qualitative data analysis, 13 articles were included in the review. The results indicate that the relationship between screen time and ADHD symptoms is multifactorial and bidirectional, involving the interaction between biological, behavioral, and environmental factors. A significant association is observed between excessive screen use and symptoms of the disorder, with increased risk when this exposure occurs in early childhood, especially with passive content. Longitudinal studies show that this effect is not uniformly causal, often being modulated by variables such as family routine, sleep quality, parental supervision, type of content, and genetic vulnerability, highlighting the association between the Polygenic Risk Score and increased screen time. Evidence also indicates that passive screens are more strongly related to inattention, while interactive media show more heterogeneous effects. Furthermore, some studies identify that children with ADHD tend to resort to increased screen use as a strategy for emotional self-regulation, reinforcing the bidirectional nature of this relationship. It is concluded that the relationship between screen use and ADHD symptoms is complex and multifactorial, and is best understood as bidirectional in light of the Vulnerability-Stress Model. The type of content (such as short-duration passive media) proves to be a more relevant predictor of inattention than screen time alone, with the risk modulated by environmental and genetic variables. The findings have relevant clinical implications, suggesting that psychological and family management should include active content mediation, supervision of use, and attention to sleep routines. Furthermore, contributions to professional practice are highlighted by pointing out the importance of differentiating "ADHD-like" environmental symptoms from primary ADHD, integrating the digital context into clinical assessment. This work offers an updated synthesis of the evidence to support multidisciplinary interventions that improve children's interaction with technology. However, the gaps identified in longitudinal studies, the inclusion of early childhood, and the standardization of methods for measuring screen time reinforce the need for future research.