Screen media exposure in pre-school children in Turkey: the relation with temperament and the role of parental attitudes

Abstract

Background. Electronic media have become an important element in the lives of modern children. Devices like televisions, smartphones and tablets are widely used by some parents in order to manage hyperactive, stubborn and impulsive children who need high-intensity stimuli. Consequently, a child`s temperament and parental attitudes affect the duration and frequency of 3-7-year-old children`s screen (television-smartphone-internet) use. Based on this information, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the relation between screen media exposure, the child`s temperament and parental attitudes in 3-7-year-old children. Methods. The participants of this study were 210 children of 3 to 7 years of age. Rothbart`s Child Behavior List was used to assess temperament; the Parenting Attitude Research Instrument was used to determine the parental attitudes. Screen media exposure assessment questionnaire, which included questions about the age the child started using the TV, smartphone and/or internet, and the duration of their daily usage, were filled in with the children`s parents. Results. It was found that the increase in activity level, approach and discomfort was negatively correlated to the age the child started watching television, while shyness was positively related to the same phenomenon. The scores of the discomfort temperament subscale had a direct relation to the duration of watching television. Background television is negatively related to attention, inhibitory control, and perceptual sensitivity. Dependency, marital conflict and strictness and authoritarianism parameters were found to be positively related to the duration of playing with a smartphone. Also, in this study we found that negative temperament characteristics adversely affected screen media exposure and poor parenting styles worsen this relationship. Conclusions. Both temperament and parenting styles affect screen media exposure. In addition, it was understood that parenting styles also affect the relation between temperament and screen exposure. Parental information programs on this subject can eliminate the lack of information related to early screen media exposure in preschool children.

Infant and preschool childhood Screen time and psychopathology or parental concerns in a Portuguese Sample

“…Children's characteristics can also influence exposure. Children perceived by their parents as more active are exposed to higher levels of TV daily, with a greater likelihood of being exposed to TV during meals (29) . Children with socio-emotional difficulties are more likely to be given a mobile phone or tablet as a mean of calming down at home (30) .…”

“…Children with socio-emotional difficulties are more likely to be given a mobile phone or tablet as a mean of calming down at home (30) . More daily crying time is associated with increased exposure to TV (29) . Children with moderate to severe self-regulation problems at 9 months of age are more exposed to screen time at 2 years of age and are at greater risk of exceeding 2 hours/day.…”

Association between screen time and suspected developmental coordination disorder in preschoolers: A national population-based study in China

“…Following the same measurement used in previous studies (1)(2)(3)(4), parents were asked to provide the average time in a day in the past year their child spent watching TV, using a smartphone or computer or other tablets with a screen by answering three questions: (1). Consider the typical situation in the past whole year, how many minutes on a weekday does your child usually spend watching TV, using a smartphone, a computer, or a tablet?…”

“…Evidence suggests that excessive screen exposure (ESE) time in early childhood is associated with child development and health (1)(2)(3)(4). The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a marked increase in sedentary behavior, notably excessive screen time among children, with potential long-term implications for their developmental outcomes (5).…”

Scientometric domain of foreign studies on the psychology of preschool age

“…Психиатры медицинского исследовательского центра университета Башкент (Турция) полагают, что родители злоупотребляют использованием гаджетов (смартфон, телевизор, планшет) для управления гиперактивностью, упрямством и импульсивностью детей 3-7 лет, поскольку гаджеты являются высокоинтенсивными раздражителями [31].…”