New research from the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute has found a link between time watching television or playing video games and mental health among boys.

The research, published this week in Academic Pediatrics, found boys watching two hours a day, or 14 hours each week, were also at a 1.7 times greater risk of hyperactivity and inattention problems than those who did not.

It asked the parents of about 870 children aged eight or nine years old about their electronic media use and any behavioural issues they may have.

There was no clear link reported between computer use and behavioural issues.

Study author Dr Lisa Mundy said it was an important age group to study, as it was the age when children's use of media started to rise.

"It's also an age at which children are highly sensitive, due to the huge biological, psychological and emotional development, which occurs during this phase of life," she said.

But the research also found girls of the same age were not affected the same way by screen time as boys were, partly due to different ways in which boys and girls consume electronic media.

"It may be that the electronic media causes emotional and behavioural problems – or it may be that children with these problems spend more time using electronic media," she said.

Dr Mundy said it was important to note that the nature of the media affected the experience, and playing video games was more likely to be a solitary experience while watching TV was more likely to be a family activity.

"While the amount of 'screen time' in a day is important, our results suggest it's not the only factor at play," she said.

"The type of media matters too, and future interventions targeting specific media and gender differences in use would be most effective," Dr Mundy says.