Influence of maternal and infant technology use and other family factors on infant development

Digital technology is ubiquitous in the lives of many children and parents. To better understand any influence of technology use by infants, and mothers, on child development, technology use should be considered within the broader family system context in which children develop. This study aimed to investigate associations between infant and maternal technology use and infant 12-month development, taking into consideration other family factors.

This cross-sectional study used data from ORIGINS participants, collected at 12-months of age: maternal and child technology use (TechU-Q), sociodemographic factors (e.g. child sex, household income), parental mental health (DASS-21), and child development (Ages and Stages Questionnaire). Linear regression was used for analyses.

When family factors were considered, higher infant mobile touchscreen device (MTSD) use was associated with poorer infant development for gross motor, problem-solving, and total ASQ-3 scores. In contrast there were no associations between infant television (TV) watching or maternal technology use and total ASQ-3 scores. Higher maternal technology use was associated with higher infant technology use. Poorer maternal and paternal mental health were associated with poorer infant development. Poorer maternal mental health was also associated with higher infant TV watching and higher maternal MTSD use.

There is a complex relationship between technology use, parental mental health and other family factors that together influence infant development. To improve infant development outcomes, less focus should be on infant or maternal technology use, and more on supporting the family as a whole, and parental mental health in particular.