#1171 - Evidence Based Solutions to Break Screen Addiction with Dr Brad Marshall

New research shows that simple parent-led interventions can reduce gaming disorder and smartphone addiction in children by up to 60% in just six weeks. In this episode, clinician and researcher Dr Brad Marshall breaks down exactly what parents can do to help their children develop healthier relationships with technology, backed by groundbreaking new research from Macquarie University.

Key Points:

• About 10% of Australian teens are experiencing problematic screen use and addiction.

• A study of 689 families revealed significant improvements in screen addiction through parent-led interventions.

• 60% of children with gaming disorder showed improvement after 6 weeks.

• 32% of children with smartphone addiction showed improvement after 6 weeks.

• Five key strategies were identified, with WiFi management being among the most effective.

Quote of the Episode: "Parents can have a huge impact on how their kids do stuff online... even without any direct therapeutic intervention."

Key Insights:

• Hardware-level controls are more effective than software-based parental controls.

• Sometimes parents need to implement boundaries before having conversations.

• Simple WiFi management strategies can be more effective than complex behavioural agreements.

• Managing mobile data plans is a crucial but longer-term intervention strategy.

• Parent-only interventions can be highly effective without direct child involvement.

Personal Stories Shared:

• Brad shared his experience testifying before the Senate regarding social media age restrictions.

• Justin shared his perspective on occasionally needing to make executive decisions as a parent despite preferring collaborative approaches.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Tech Diet for Your Child and Teen book

• Mesh router systems for WiFi management

• G-Mee phones (Australian smartphone for kids)

• Brad Marshall's website (The Unplugged Psychologist)

• Macquarie University research study on gaming disorder and smartphone addiction

Action Steps for Parents:

1. Implement home WiFi limits through mesh router systems.

2. Place limits on mobile phone data plans

3. Set clear boundaries around WiFi at bedtime.

4. Consider hardware-level solutions rather than relying on software controls.

5. Start with structural changes (WiFi/data management) before focusing on behavioural agreements.

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