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Published on: October 19, 2014
Prolonged touch screen device usage is associated with emotional and behavioral problems, but not language delay, in
Han-Pin Lin1, Kuan-Lin Chen2, Willy Chou3
1Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC; Jin Sin Women and Children's Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.
Insights
Increased touch screen device use in toddlers (18-36 months) is linked to more emotional and behavioral issues, including anxiety, attention problems, and aggression. However, this study found no significant impact on language development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Media Psychology
Background:
- Touch screen device usage is rapidly increasing among young children.
- The developmental effects of early touch screen exposure remain largely unknown.
- This research investigates the impact of touch screen use on emotional, behavioral, and language development in toddlers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between touch screen device exposure and symptomatic emotional and behavioral problems in children aged 18-36 months.
- To assess the relationship between touch screen device usage and language development in the same age group.
- To identify potential risks associated with early and prolonged exposure to touch screen technology.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 161 primary caregivers and their children (18-36 months) were recruited from a medical center.
- Caregivers completed the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½-5 (CBCL 1½-5) and a touch screen usage questionnaire.
- The Communication and Language Screening Test for Birth to Three Chinese-Speaking Infant-Toddlers (CLST) was administered, alongside statistical analyses including regression models.
Main Results:
- Higher duration of touch screen device use was significantly correlated with increased emotional problems (β=.219, p<.010).
- Specific behavioral issues linked to increased screen time included anxious/depressive symptoms (β=.206, p<.050), somatic complaints (β=.291, p<.001), social withdrawal (β=.194, p<.050), attention problems (β=.300, p<.001), and aggressive behaviors (β=.247, p<.010).
- No significant association was found between touch screen device exposure and language development delays (β=-.136, p<.100).
Conclusions:
- Increased time spent on touch screen devices by young children is associated with a higher likelihood of developing various emotional and behavioral problems.
- These problems include, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, somatic complaints, social withdrawal, attention deficits, and aggression.
- Current findings suggest that while touch screen use may negatively impact emotional and behavioral well-being, it does not appear to significantly affect language development in toddlers aged 18-36 months.
Background:
Touch screen devices are now ubiquitous, and their usage by young children is increasing. However, the effects of these devices on young children are still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to address the associations of touch screen device exposure with symptomatic emotional and behavioral problems and language development in children between the ages of 18 and 36 months.
Method:
A total of 161 primary caregivers of children between the ages of 18 and 36 months were recruited from the pediatric ward and outpatient clinic at a medical center in southern Taiwan. All caregivers were asked to fill out the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½-5 (CBCL 1½-5) and a questionnaire on basic personal information and touch screen device usage, and they were also interviewed with the Communication and Language Screening Test for Birth to Three Chinese-Speaking Infant-Toddlers (CLST). Independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to examine the differences among the categories in the demographic variables and to characterize the touch screen device usage behaviors. Pearson's correlation was used to analyze the relationship between language delay and the extent of touch screen device exposure. After primary univariate analysis, we used multiple regression models to examine the relationships among the effects of touch screen device usage behaviors on children's emotional and behavioral problems and language development.
Result:
The children's mean age was 25.63 months (SD = 5.35). Children who spent more time on touch screen devices were more likely to have emotional problems (β = .219, p < .010, 95 % CI: .279-1.518), anxious/depressive symptoms (β = .206, p < .050, 95 % CI: .170-1.244), somatic complaints (β = .291, p < .001, 95% CI: .455-1.462), social withdrawal symptoms (β = .194, p < .050, 95 % CI: 0.133-1.150), attention problems (β = .300, p < .001, 95 % CI: .432-1.267), and aggressive behaviors (β = .247, p < .010, 95 % CI: .967-3.983). The effects were not noted on language development (β = -.136, p < .100, 95 % CI: -2.595-.147).
Conclusion:
Young children who spent more time on touch screen devices were more likely to have emotional problems, anxious/depressive symptoms, somatic complaints, social withdrawal symptoms, attention problems, and aggressive behaviors, but not language delay.
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