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Relationship between screen use and internalizing/externalizing problems among preschoolers: the mediation of

Jia Zhao1, Naixue Cui2, Yan Li3

  • 1School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.

Pediatric Research
|February 22, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Screen time in young children is linked to emotional and behavioral issues. However, circadian rhythm disruptions, specifically chronotype, showed minimal mediation in this relationship, suggesting other factors may be involved.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Sleep Science
  • Chronobiology

Background:

  • Circadian disruption is a proposed mechanism for psychopathology.
  • The link between screen time and child behavioral problems needs further investigation.
  • This study examines circadian rhythm's mediating role in screen use and child problems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mediating effect of circadian rhythm on the relationship between screen use and emotional/behavioral problems in young children.
  • To assess the role of chronotype and midsleep on free days corrected for sleep debt (MSFsc) as mediators.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 1111 children (2-7 years).
  • Data collected via parent/teacher surveys (screen time, emotional/behavioral problems), Children's ChronoType Questionnaire, actigraphy, and sleep diaries.
  • Circadian rhythm assessed via chronotype and MSFsc.

Main Results:

  • Screen use was associated with internalizing and externalizing problems.
  • Chronotype significantly mediated these relationships.
  • MSFsc measures (survey, actigraphy, diaries) did not reproduce mediation findings.

Conclusions:

  • Delayed circadian phase mediation is likely negligible in the screen use-problem relationship.
  • Future research should explore other circadian parameters and long-term effects.
Abstract

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