Problematic Digital Technology Use Measures in Children Aged 0 to 6 Years: Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Digital Media Studies
• Public Health

Background:

• Accurate assessment of digital technology's effects on early childhood necessitates moving beyond simple screen time metrics.
• Problematic patterns of digital technology use in young children require identification and examination of relevant measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review empirical literature on measures of problematic digital technology use in preschool children.
• To identify reliable and valid measures associated with negative child health, development, or well-being outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed publications from January 2012 to December 2023.
• Searched Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar for studies on problematic digital technology use (beyond screen time) in children aged 0-6 years.

Main Results:

• Identified 18 composite measures and 23 specific aspect measures for problematic digital technology use.
• Existing composite measures often conceptualize problematic use as symptoms of a disorder, but fall short in reliably assessing crucial aspects.
• Evaluated benefits and shortcomings of single-aspect problematic use measures.

Conclusions:

• Early digital technology exposure, pre-sleep device use, and solitary use are consistently linked to negative child outcomes.
• Potential problematic use measures include device use during meals, for emotional regulation, multitasking, and technoference, requiring further research.
• Framing problematic digital technology use as risky behaviors, rather than addiction symptoms, offers public health benefits.