Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jul;15(7):e70656.
doi: 10.1002/brb3.70656.

Short-Form Video Media Use Is Associated With Greater Inattentive Symptoms in Thai School-Age Children: Insights From a Cross-Sectional Survey

Romteera Chiencharoenthanakij  1 , Kachawan Yothamart  1 , Naphat Chantathamma  2 , Worachot Sukhumdecha  2 , Saranyu Charoensri  2 , Bhupa Thanyakulsajja  2 , Krittisak Anuroj  1
Affiliations

Short-Form Video Media Use Is Associated With Greater Inattentive Symptoms in Thai School-Age Children: Insights From a Cross-Sectional Survey

Romteera Chiencharoenthanakij et al. Brain Behav. 2025 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Short-form videos, characterized by fast-paced and high-arousal content, may have unique effects on children's attention development distinct from other forms of media. However, their impacts remain underexplored, especially in school-age children, a critical period for prefrontal circuitry's maturation.

Objective: This study examined the association between short-form video media use and inattentive behaviors among school-age children, drawn from both clinical and nonclinical samples, while also exploring the associations with hyperactive-impulsive and oppositional-defiant behaviors as secondary outcomes.

Designs, settings, and participants: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Thailand between November 2023 and March 2024. Participants included guardians of children aged 6-12 attending outpatient vaccinations and child psychiatric clinics. Inattentive behaviors and secondary outcomes were assessed using the parent-rated Thai version of the SNAP-IV short form. Generalized linear models examined their associations with short-form video media use, adjusted for covariates such as total screen time, demographic data, parenting practices, and parental mental wellbeing.

Results: The analysis included 528 participants, with 11.6% previously diagnosed with ADHD. Short-form video media use was significantly associated with higher inattentive behaviors. The association was stronger among younger participants. No significant associations were found with hyperactive-impulsive or oppositional-defiant behaviors, although total screen time remained significantly associated with these outcomes.

Conclusion: The observed association between short-form video media use and inattention, together with the significant negative interaction with age in this school-age sample, adds to the growing literature on the neuropsychiatric impacts of the media and underscores the needs for studies on mechanisms and long-term impacts.

Keywords: Thai; attention; digital media; media exposure; school‐age population.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. American Psychiatric Association . 2022. DSM‐5‐TR Classification. American Psychiatric Association Publishing.
    1. Balázs, J. , and Keresztény A.. 2014. “Subthreshold Attention Deficit Hyperactivity in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.” European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 23: 393–408. 10.1007/s00787-013-0514-7. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Baumgartner, S. E. , Parry D. A., Beyens I., et al. 2024. “The Short‐ and Long‐Term Effects of Digital Media Use on Attention.” In Handbook of Children and Screens, edited by Christakis D. A. and Hale L., 31–37, Springer Nature.
    1. Beheshti, A. , Chavanon M.‐L., and Christiansen H.. 2020. “Emotion Dysregulation in Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Meta‐Analysis.” BMC Psychiatry 20: 120. 10.1186/s12888-020-2442-7. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Berk, L. E. 2018. “Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood.” In Development Through the Lifespan, 292–333, Pearson.

LinkOut - more resources