Recent research has shown a strong correlation between the excessive use of technology and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder. In a study of 4,800 French graduate students, researcher Dr. Montagni and associates found that increasing screen time exposure was significantly associated with higher levels of self-perceived attention problems and hyperactivity. Yen and fellow researchers studied Taiwanese college students and found that students struggling with internet gambling addictions were much more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder than students who did not struggle with internet gambling addiction.

The excessive use of social media and the connection to ADHD was recently identified by researcher Schou Andreassen and colleagues, who studied approximately 23,500 adults in Norway. Andreaseen and colleagues found a significant positive relationship between social media use and symptoms of ADHD, meaning that as symptoms of ADHD increased, so did the excessive use of social media.

If you are struggling with using social media too often, internet gambling or excessive video and internet gaming, this may be a sign of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Speak with your healthcare provider about your use of technology and ask if treatment for ADHD may help you regulate your use more effectively. If you would like to speak with a psychiatric specialist about your technology use or your concerns about ADHD symptoms, you should request an appointment with a professional in your area.

Author: Holly Bechard

Dr. Holly Bechard is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over 10 years experience treating patients across the life span. She graduated in 2007 from Vanderbilt University with a master's degree in psychiatric nursing and earned her doctorate in education from Lipscomb University in 2015. She has worked in community health settings, private practice and has taught in both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. She is currently an adjunct faculty member at the University of San Diego and serves in a clinical role for WellPsyche Medical Group in La Jolla, California.