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Determinants of Excessive Screen Time among Children under Five Years Old in Selangor, Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional
Diana Raj1,2, Norafiah Mohd Zulkefli1, Zalilah Mohd Shariff3
1Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia.
Insights
Over 91% of Malaysian children under five have excessive screen time, with television being the most common device. Parental factors significantly influence children's screen habits, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Child Health
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Excessive screen time poses risks to child health and development.
- Understanding screen time patterns in Malaysian children is crucial.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) provides guidelines for age-appropriate screen time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of excessive screen time in Malaysian children under five.
- To identify factors associated with excessive screen time in this population.
- To inform interventions aimed at managing children's screen time.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 489 parent-child dyads in Selangor, Malaysia.
- Random selection from government health clinics in the Petaling district.
- Validated questionnaires assessed total screen time and related factors, analyzed via multiple logistic regression.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of excessive screen time (91.4%) was observed, with a median of 3.00 hours.
- Television was the primary screen device (66%), followed by handheld devices (30%).
- Key determinants included Malay ethnicity, parental age (≥30 years), high parental screen time, moderate self-efficacy for physical activity, and positive perception of screen time's cognitive benefits.
Conclusions:
- Parental factors are significant determinants of children's excessive screen time.
- Interventions should target parental behaviors and perceptions.
- Addressing parental determinants is essential for promoting age-appropriate screen time in children.
Abstract:
Excessive screen time interferes with the health and development of children. However, the screen time situation among Malaysian children remains poorly understood. This study aims to identify the prevalence and determinants of excessive screen time among children under five years in Selangor, Malaysia, using the latest World Health Organization guidelines. In this cross-sectional study, 489 parent−child dyads were randomly selected from nine government health clinics in Petaling district, Selangor. Total screen time and factors were assessed using validated self-administered questionnaires and analysed using multiple logistic regression. The overall prevalence of excessive screen time was 91.4% with a median of 3.00 h. The majority of children utilized television (66%), followed by handheld devices (30%) and computers (4%). Determinants of screen time identified were Malay ethnicity, (aOR 3.56, 95% CI 1.65−7.68), parental age of ≥30 years (aOR 3.12, 95% CI 1.58−6.16), parental screen time >2 h a day (aOR 2.42, 95% CI 1.24−4.73), moderate self-efficacy to influence a child’s physical activity (aOR 2.29, 95% CI 1.01−5.20) and the positive perception on the influence of screen time on a child’s cognitive wellbeing (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01−1.32). Parents play an important role in determining their child’s screen time. Future interventions should focus on addressing parental determinants to ensure age-appropriate screen time.
