Many of us use screens for stress relief, but it’s actually making us worse

A survey jointly conducted by CNA and the Institute of Policy Studies at the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy found that Singaporean teenagers aged 13 to 19 spend nearly 8.5 hours daily on electronic devices. More than 50 per cent of the survey respondents cited using screen time as a coping mechanism for negative emotions and stress.

While the screen does provide momentary relief from stress, it could distract us from addressing the root cause of stress and may worsen our mental well-being and emotional regulation.  

Acknowledging that cutting back on screen time may feel impossible, Dr Samer Elhajjar, who is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Marketing at NUS Business School, suggests taking small steps, such as limiting notifications, setting dedicated screen-free time, and engaging in more offline activities to limit screen time. Dr Elhajjar added that curating our digital environment to promote mindful and intentional screen use could help us resist unnecessary screen time and develop healthier digital habits.

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