Screen Exposure During Daily Routines and a Young Child's Risk for Having Social-Emotional Delay

Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2017 Nov;56(13):1244-1253. doi: 10.1177/0009922816684600. Epub 2017 Feb 1.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study assessed associations between social-emotional development in young children and their number of daily routines involving an electronic screen. We hypothesized children with poor social-emotional development have a significant portion of daily routines occurring with a screen. Two hundred and ten female caregivers of typically developing children 12 to 36 months old completed the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional (ASQ: SE) and a media diary. Caregivers completed the diary for 1 day around 10 daily routines (Waking Up, Diapering/Toileting, Dressing, Breakfast, Lunch, Naptime, Playtime, Dinner, Bath, and Bedtime). Median number of daily routines occurring with a screen for children at risk and not at risk for social-emotional delay (as defined by the ASQ: SE) was 7 versus 5. Children at risk for social-emotional delay were 5.8 times more likely to have ≥5 routines occurring with a screen as compared to children not at risk for delay (χ12 = 9.28, N = 210, P = .002; 95% confidence interval = 1.66-20.39).

Keywords: child development; emotions; media; screen.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Caregivers
  • Child Development*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Computers / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Risk Factors
  • Sedentary Behavior
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Television / statistics & numerical data*