The association between adolescents' recreational screen exposure and academic performance and its mediating mechanisms.

Résumé

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: With the widespread use of digital media, adolescents' screen time has increased significantly. The relationship between screen time and academic performance has become a research focus in education and public health. However, existing findings are inconsistent, and mechanism-based studies focusing on Chinese adolescents-who experience high academic pressure-are scarce. Grounded in cognitive load and self-regulation theories, this study explores the relationship between recreational screen exposure and academic performance among Chinese adolescents and examines its underlying mechanisms, providing empirical evidence for screen use management.METHODS: A total of 175 middle school students from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), conducted between June 2023 and December 2025, were selected. Multiple linear regression analysis investigated the association between recreational screen exposure and academic performance. Heterogeneity of screen exposure types was analyzed using -tests of regression coefficients. Core mediation effects were examined using the regression-based PROCESS macro.RESULTS: Screen time was significantly negatively associated with Chinese (β = -0.029, < 0.01), mathematics (β = -0.052, < 0.01), English (β = -0.049, < 0.01), and total academic scores (β = -0.129, < 0.01). Heterogeneity existed among screen exposure types: both television viewing and online gaming were significantly negatively correlated with academic performance (all < 0.01), but the negative association of online gaming was stronger. Its effect sizes on mathematics (β = -0.068, < 0.01), English (β = -0.053, < 0.01), and total scores (β = -0.155, < 0.01) were higher than those of television viewing. Mediation analysis revealed that sleep duration, mental health, and cognitive performance served as core mediating pathways, while secondary variables-such as BMI, subjective health perception, peer relationships, and parent-child relationships-were excluded due to minimal effect size or lack of practical intervention value.CONCLUSION: Recreational screen exposure has a robust negative effect on academic performance, with online gaming posing a significantly greater risk than television use. Screen exposure primarily impairs academic performance indirectly by disrupting sleep, increasing cognitive load, and reducing emotional regulation. This study provides localized evidence for the refined management of adolescents' digital behaviors.