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Exposure to Smartphones and Tablets, Physical Activity and Sleep in Children From 5 to 10 Years Old: A Systematic
Eliane Denise Araújo Bacil1, Michael Pereira da Silva2, Rafael Vieira Martins1
1Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil.
Insights
Excessive smartphone and tablet use in children aged 5-10 is linked to reduced physical activity and poorer sleep. Limiting screen time can improve children's health and quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Digital Media Impact
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Rising rates of digital device usage among children.
- Growing concerns about the effects of screen time on child development.
- Need for evidence-based recommendations on device use for young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between smartphone/tablet exposure and physical activity and sleep in children aged 5-10 years.
- To quantify the impact of digital device use on sleep duration, sleep quality, and physical activity levels.
- To provide data supporting health promotion strategies for children's digital media consumption.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines.
- Inclusion of observational studies published in indexed journals (Portuguese, English, Spanish).
- Data extraction and synthesis using fixed and random effects models, reporting Odds Ratios (OR) and Beta coefficients (β).
Main Results:
- Inverse association found between smartphone/tablet use and physical activity.
- Each additional hour of device use correlated with an average decrease of 11 minutes in sleep (β = -0.11).
- Increased likelihood of shorter sleep duration (OR=1.79) and worse sleep quality (OR=1.53) with higher device usage. Children with less device use were more likely to be active (OR=1.19).
Conclusions:
- Children aged 5-10 exposed to more screen time are prone to reduced physical activity and poorer sleep quantity and quality.
- Findings support health promotion initiatives to limit device use and enhance children's well-being.
- Reducing screen time is crucial for improving children's overall health and quality of life.
Objective:
To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to verify the association between smartphone/tablet exposure and physical activity and sleep in children from 5 to 10 years old. Data Source: This study followed the guidelines of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and included studies that met eligibility criteria based on the "PECO" strategy: participants (children from 5 to 10 years old), exposure (smartphone and tablet use), and outcome (physical activity and sleep).
Study Inclusion And Exclusion Criteria:
The inclusion criteria were observational studies published in indexed scientific journals and written in Portuguese, English, and Spanish that verified the association of exposure to smartphones/tablets with physical activity and sleep in children aged 5 to 10 years of both sexes. Studies were considered eligible only if they met the previous criteria. Data Extraction: The search was conducted in January 2023 on databases from electronic journals without the restriction of the period. To meta-analyze were extracted and grouped using models of fixed and random effects, the coefficients Odds Ratio (OR), Beta (β), Standard Error (SE), and Confidence Intervals of 95% (95%CI). Data Synthesis: 2396 potentially relevant papers were identified, and 17 met the inclusion criteria.
Results:
It can be verified that there was an inverse association between smartphones with physical activity and sleep. Studies indicate that for every additional hour of smartphone and tablet use, sleep can be expected to decrease by an average of 11 minutes (β = - 0.11; 95%CI = -0.13; -0.09). Children using smartphones and tablets were 1.79 times (OR = 1.79; 95%CI = 1.72-1.86) more likely to have shorter sleep duration and 1.53 times (OR = 1.53; 95%CI = 1.41-1.65) more likely to have worse sleep quality. Children with shorter smartphone and tablet usage were 1.19 times more likely to be active (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.03-1.37).
Conclusion:
Children of 5 to 10 years who are more often exposed to smartphones and tablets are prone to have worse quality and quantity of sleep, as well as less practice of physical activity. Health promotion actions can be encouraged based on the results, aiming to reduce the use time of these devices and improve children's health and quality of life.
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