Smartphone use by children in fast food restaurants in Barcelona (Spain): a direct observation study

Abstract

Objective: To explore the use of smartphones at mealtimes by children in fast food restaurants in the city of Barcelona and to assess the variables associated with this use.

Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out. Data from 1616 children of estimated ages between 4 to 10 years were collected in fast-food restaurants in the ten districts of Barcelona between October 2021 and July 2022. The percentage of smartphone use, overall and according to covariates, were calculated. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests, and crude and adjusted Poisson regression models with robust variance, were carried out to assess the association between use and covariates.

Results: Direct observation revealed that in 28.1% of meals with children at fast food restaurants, children used smartphones. Smartphone use was significantly higher in older children if their caregivers were younger than 30 years and when there was no caregiver-child interaction. In the adjusted model, higher patterns of smartphone use were associated with older children (aPR [95% CI]: 1.36[1.20-1.55]) and younger parents (aPR [95% CI]: 1.38[1.09-1.73]).

Conclusions: Almost one in three meals with children at fast-food restaurants in Barcelona involves smartphone use. This finding underlines the importance of raising awareness of responsible screen use and promoting healthier environments for children at mealtimes.

Keywords: Hora de comer; Infancia; Infant; Mealtime; Patrones de uso de pantallas; Preadolescencia; Preadolescent; Screen use patterns; Smartphone.