Increased screen exposure predicts faster orienting and prolonged distraction in infancy

Screen exposure is linked with attention difficulties in childhood. Yet, little is known about how different forms of screen exposure relate to specific attentional processes, namely, endogenous and exogenous attention, during infancy, a period characterized by rapid attentional development and increased sensitivity to environmental experiences. The present study addressed this gap by examining the association between screen time, background television exposure, and early attention. A total of 110 typically developing infants aged 9-16 months participated in the study. Infants completed an anti-saccade task and a distractibility task to measure exogenous and endogenous attention. Mothers reported infants' daily screen time and background television exposure at home. Linear mixed-effects models showed that greater screen time and background television exposure predicted faster orienting to salient stimuli (i.e., heightened exogenous attention) and prolonged distraction (i.e., reduced endogenous attention). When modeled simultaneously, background television exposure remained significantly associated with faster orienting, while increased screen time remained significantly associated with prolonged distraction. These findings suggest that infants' screen media environments may be differentially associated with specific attentional processes. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of considering both direct and background screen exposure when examining early attention development.