A Cross Sectional Study on Relationship between Gadget Usage and Child’s Development among Children in Klang Valley

Abstract

Background: The use of gadgets especially amongst children is rising exponentially across the globe. In today's day and age, children are natives to the world of Information and Technology which explains the unprecedented rise in the usage of gadgets amongst them. However, early gadget usage brings about both positive and negative impact on their development and we aim to understand and highlight these impacts. Objectives: To assess the association between the duration of gadget usage and the development of children. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 368 parents with children age 2-5 years old in Klang Valley. The UNICEF ECDI 2030 was used as the collecting instrument. Data analysis was done by using Jeffrey’s Amazing Statistics Program (JASP) with Multiple Logistic Regression as statistical test. Results: Overall, there is a statistically significant association between the duration of gadget usage and the development of children. Conclusion: Screen time significantly affects a child’s development which warrants effort from parents to limit their screen time which can be achieved by implementing other habits and establishing a positive reinforcement technique. Keywords: Gadget Usage, Children Development, Aged 2-5 years old, Klang Valley, Malaysia.