Correlates of parental knowledge about smartphone exposure among young children

Abstract

Background: Unhealthy smartphone habits use can impair the health of young children. Smartphone use among young children is affected by several factors of which the most important is parental knowledge pertains to smartphone exposure among young children. In Jordan, no studies have focused on this factor. Method: A nation-wide cross-sectional survey was distributed to parents of children aged <6 years to assess parental knowledge of smartphone exposure among young children and examine its correlates in Jordan. An online selfreporting questionnaire was administered via Survey Monkey and posted on social media platforms in June 2020. Results: A total of 2,781 Jordanian parents completed the survey. During the pandemic the daily hours of Smartphone use among children were significantly higher than prior the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (2.12 vs. 1.7 h). More than half the children exceeded the recommended daily hours of use. These results were positively associated with increased smartphone use among parents. Overall, the parents proved knowledgeable regarding the effects of excessive smartphone exposure on the health of their children. However, a knowledge deficit was evident in two areas: parental controls on smartphone and safe levels of infant smartphone exposure. The mothers possessed a significantly higher level of knowledge than the fathers. Conclusion:The results suggest that, in the context Jordan, increasing parental knowledge has the potential to reduce smartphone exposure among young children. Awareness campaigns are needed to enhance parental knowledge of smartphone exposure among young children and the use of parental controls on smartphones.

An Evaluation Of Parents Of Toddlers' Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Regarding Exposure To Electronic Media

“…Awareness campaigns are needed to enhance parental knowledge of smartphone exposure among young children and the use of parental controls on smartphones. 6…”

“…Awareness campaigns are needed to enhance parental knowledge of smartphone exposure among young children and the use of parental controls on smartphones. 1 Arippin Aqilah-Fatin Nur, Mahmud Haji Mardiah, Rahman Abdul Hanif, A. Yumni-Kolinmo, Yuin-Aliy, Lai Linda Ching Swee, Mumin-Abdul H. Khadizah (2021) conducted a study to assess the parent's knowledge and experience of the screen time spent by their children at home aged below five years old, at Maternal and Child Health Care Clinics in four districts in Brunei Darussalam. It was a cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaire.…”