Correlates of mobile screen media use among children aged 0–8: a systematic review

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study is a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature to identify the correlates of mobile screen media use among children aged 8 years and less.SettingHome or community-based studies were included in this review while child care or school-based studies were excluded.ParticipantsChildren aged 8 years or less were the study population. Studies that included larger age groups without subgroup analysis specific to the 0–8 years category were excluded. Eight electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed English language primary research articles published or in press between January 2009 and March 2017 that have studied correlates of mobile screen media use in this age group.Outcome measureMobile screen media use was the primary outcome measure. Mobile screen media use refers to children’s use of mobile screens, such as mobile phones, electronic tablets, handheld computers or personal digital assistants.ResultsThirteen studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified of which a total of 36 correlates were examined. Older children, children better skilled in using mobile screen media devices, those having greater access to such devices at home and whose parents had high mobile screen media use were more likely to have higher use of mobile screen media devices. No association existed with parent’s age, sex and education.ConclusionLimited research has been undertaken into young children’s mobile screen media use and most of the variables have been studied too infrequently for robust conclusions to be reached. Future studies with objective assessment of mobile screen media use and frequent examination of the potential correlates across multiple studies and settings are recommended.Trial registration numberThis review is registered with PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Ongoing Systematic Reviews (registration number: CRD42015028028).

Executive function and screen‐based media use in preschool children

“…Preschool children spend an average of 2–3 hr per day in front of various screens (McNeill, Howard, Vella, & Cliff, ; Rideout, Vandewater, & Wartella, ), thus exceeding recommendations by worldwide child healthcare authorities (AAP Council on Communications and Media, ). While television viewing still accounts for the majority of this time (Jusienė et al, ; Kostyrka‐Allchorne, Cooper, & Simpson, ), interactive and mobile media devices such as smartphones and tablets have been on the rise during recent years (Kabali et al, ; Kostyrka‐Allchorne, Cooper, & Simpson, ; Paudel, Jancey, Subedi, & Leavy, ; Radesky, Schumacher, & Zuckerman, ). The portability of these devices makes them accessible to different locations and situations.…”

Smart device usage in early childhood is differentially associated with fine motor and language development

“…Because of the relatively recent increase of smart device use among children, studies on smart devices and mobile screen media use are still ongoing and fewer than conventional media. Currently, most investigations on smart device use among children and adolescents have focused on usage status, parental factors, mother's perception, overuse and health problems such as esotropia and exposure to radio frequencies . According to a systemic review by Paudel et al.…”

“…According to a systemic review by Paudel et al. , children younger than eight years of age were more likely to consume mobile screen media if they were older, were more skilled at using smart devices, or had a parent who used screen media extensively at home. There were no associations between children's use of mobile screen media and parent's age, sex or educational status .…”

The development of a questionnaire to assess leisure time screen-based media use and its proximal correlates in children (SCREENS-Q)

“…The socio-ecological model worked as a unifying framework for identifying and investigating potential correlates of children's SMU. Subsequently, a literature search identified and supplemented constructs from the socio-ecological model (22,23). Based on this model we also included relevant questionnaire items from former or ongoing studies (13,16,17,(24)(25)(26)(27).…”