Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 10, 2025

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
07:01

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children

Published on: March 1, 2019

8.2K

Parents and Mobile Devices, from Theory to Practice: Comparison between Perception and Attitudes to 0-5 Year Old

Loredana Covolo1, Daniela Zaniboni2, Jacopo Roncali2

  • 1Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Section of Public Health and Human Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|April 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Parents recognize mobile device (MD) risks for young children but struggle to limit usage, especially for those under two. Public health efforts should focus on educating parents about conscious MD use to protect child development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Digital Media Use
  • Parental Behavior

Background:

  • Pediatric guidelines recommend limiting mobile device (MD) use in children: avoidance for ages 0-2 and ≤1 hour/day for ages 3-5.
  • Parental awareness and adherence to these recommendations remain unclear.
  • Understanding parental risk perception is crucial for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate public risk perception regarding children's (0-5 years) mobile device use.
  • To examine parental attitudes towards children's engagement with mobile devices.
  • To identify factors influencing parental behavior concerning children's screen time.

Main Methods:

  • A voluntary, self-administered online survey was distributed via social media.
  • 3115 participants, predominantly parents of children under five (61%), completed the survey.
  • Data analysis focused on risk perception, information seeking, and behavioral patterns.

Main Results:

  • 74% of respondents believed mobile device use could harm children's health.
  • Awareness did not consistently lead to recommended usage limits, particularly for children aged 0-2 years.
  • While 54% sought information on risks, only 22% consulted pediatricians, with the web being the primary source (78%).

Conclusions:

  • Parental awareness of mobile device risks is high, but translating this into practice is challenging.
  • Interventions are needed to guide parents toward moderate and mindful mobile device use by children.
  • Public health initiatives should prioritize strengthening parental understanding of conscious mobile device engagement.

Keywords:
childrenchildren’s healthdigital healthmobile deviceparentsriskscreen-time

More Related Videos

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges08:22

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges

Published on: February 25, 2016

15.7K
Gaze in Action: Head-mounted Eye Tracking of Children's Dynamic Visual Attention During Naturalistic Behavior07:09

Gaze in Action: Head-mounted Eye Tracking of Children's Dynamic Visual Attention During Naturalistic Behavior

Published on: November 14, 2018

11.2K

Related Concept Videos

Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
94
Parenting Styles01:27

Parenting Styles

Diana Baumrind's four parenting styles — authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and permissive — each influence children's socio-emotional development differently.
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
300
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships. 
46.9K
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
1.1K
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
285
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....
264