Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
07:56

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

Published on: September 19, 2019

Association Between Mothers' Problematic Internet Use and the Thinness of Their Children

Aya Sakakihara1, Chiyori Haga2, Yoneatsu Osaki3

  • 1Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Japan.

Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking
|September 19, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Mothers with problematic internet use (PIU) showed a link to thinness in their young sons. This suggests potential impacts on child feeding and care, particularly for boys under three years old.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Child Health
  • Maternal Health

Background:

  • Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is a growing concern with potential impacts on family dynamics.
  • Childhood thinness is a significant health indicator requiring investigation into contributing factors.
  • Maternal behaviors and attitudes can influence a child's nutritional status and overall well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between mothers' problematic internet use (PIU) and the thinness of their children.
  • To explore potential sex and age-specific differences in this association.
  • To understand the implications of maternal PIU on child feeding and care practices.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of health examination data from 1,685 children (4 months), 1,728 (1.5 years), and 1,672 (3 years) in Matsue city, Japan.
  • Logistic regression analysis to assess the association between maternal PIU (score ≥4) and child thinness (BMI <15).
  • Covariates adjusted included birth weight, nutrition, parental smoking, maternal age, and lifestyle factors; analysis stratified by sex and age.

Main Results:

  • Mothers' PIU was significantly associated with increased odds of thinness in boys aged 4 months (OR=3.16) and 1.5 years (OR=2.68).
  • No significant association was found between maternal PIU and thinness in girls of any age group studied.
  • The findings suggest PIU in mothers may negatively impact feeding and care for young boys.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal problematic internet use may contribute to thinness in young boys under three years old.
  • This association highlights potential deficiencies in maternal feeding attitudes and care for children of mothers with PIU.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms linking maternal PIU to child nutritional outcomes, especially in boys.

Keywords:
body mass indexchild developmentproblematic Internet usethinness

More Related Videos

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 105:44

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Published on: May 17, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies02:09

Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies

When we hold a stereotype about a person, we have expectations that he or she will fulfill that stereotype. A self-fulfilling prophecy is an expectation held by a person that alters his or her behavior in a way that tends to make it true. When we hold stereotypes about a person, we tend to treat the person according to our expectations. This treatment can influence the person to act according to our stereotypic expectations, thus confirming our stereotypic beliefs. Research by Rosenthal and...
Bullying02:04

Bullying

A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is bullying.
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity01:23

Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity

Adolescence is a pivotal period of identity formation, during which individuals begin to answer questions central to their sense of self, such as "Who am I?" and "Who do I hope to become?" Both parents and peers play critical roles in guiding adolescents through this complex developmental phase.
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...
Anorexia Nervosa01:28

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects01:29

Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects

Self-discrepancy theory explains how people compare their actual self to their ideal and ought selves and how mismatches between these self-guides can lead to emotional distress. Developed by E. Tory Higgins, the theory distinguishes among three components of self-concept: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self. These refer respectively to how individuals perceive themselves, how they aspire to be, and how they believe they are obligated to be. Emotional well-being, self-esteem,...