Do pre-schoolers with high touchscreen use show executive function differences?

Portugal, Ana Maria; Hendry, Alexandra; Smith, Tim J.; Bedford, Rachael

doi:10.1016/j.chb.2022.107553

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Results showed that there were significant correlations between foreground screen time (r = 0.38) and background screen time (r = 0.29), with severity of ASD, and with a stronger relationship with ASD severity for foreground screen time than background screen time. As such, the present pattern of results is in line with what has been observed elsewhere [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ]. To explain such a pattern of results, previous research has suggested that the effects of digital devices on young children’s cognitive and psychosocial development may vary, depending on whether digital devices were used in the foreground or background [ 72 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Given this, the present study was the first to examine the relationship between screen time and the severity of ASD symptoms, before a toddler was formally diagnosed with ASD and before any standardized treatment intervention was implemented. Further, while previous research showed that background and foreground media have different effects among typically developing young children, such as reducing attention control [ 43 ], decreased inhibitory control [ 44 ], reduced cognitive flexibility [ 45 ], and decreased their ability to process verbal information [ 46 ], such fine-grained research on the association between background and foreground media and ASD among toddlers has received less attention so far. Note that the term ‘foreground programs’ refers to content specifically designed for children to actively draw their attention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fourth, based on research other than in toddlers with ASD [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ], we hypothesized that foreground and background screens impacted on children’s symptom severity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Associations between Symptom Severity of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Screen Time among Toddlers Aged 16 to 36 Months

Sadeghi

Pouretemad

Badv

et al. 2023

Behavioral Sciences

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There is growing evidence that prevalence rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are increasing. A number of factors appear to contribute to this increase, including excessive screen time. Screen time seems to be linked to the severity of the symptoms of ASD. Given this, the aim of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between early screen time and ASD symptoms severity in the first 36 months of life. To this end, sixty-eight Iranian toddlers (mean age: 27.09 months; 22.1% females) with ASD were recruited. Parents completed the modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT), the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R), and a lifestyle checklist. Next, parents rated children’s daily exposure to content specifically designed (foreground media) and not specifically designed (background media) for children, along with their daily exposure to social interaction. Per day, toddlers spent 5.12 h (±3.77) with foreground media, 3.72 h (±3.57) with background media, and 2.89 h (±2.74) in interaction with other people (parents). To test the hypotheses, we performed a series of Pearson’s correlations and multiple regression analyses. Toddlers’ higher severity scores for ASD symptoms were associated with longer foreground (r = 0.234, p = 0.001) and longer background (r = 0.180, p = 0.012) media duration, and with shorter duration of interaction with others (r = 0.192, p = 0.009). Toddlers spending 1 h more in foreground screen time and background screen time have 0.38 and 0.29 more units in the ASD symptom severity scale, respectively, while toddlers spending 1 h more in social interactions have 0.42 fewer units in the ASD symptom severity scale. The screen time and interaction duration are related to ASD symptoms severity of toddlers. The cross-sectional study design precludes causal associations, although bi-directional relationships appear plausible.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Associations between Symptom Severity of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Screen Time among Toddlers Aged 16 to 36 Months

Sadeghi

Pouretemad

Badv

et al. 2023

Behavioral Sciences

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Relationship Between Early Childhood Development and Digital Media Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil

da Silva,

Campos,

Leão

et al. 2024

Digital Media and Early Child Development

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Digital Media, Cognition, and Brain Development in Infancy and Childhood

Kirkorian,

Barr,

Coyne

et al. 2024

Handbook of Children and Screens

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This chapter summarizes research on digital media, cognition, and brain development throughout childhood. Rapid brain development produces age-related differences in children’s responses to media and the potential impact of media on cognition. In infancy, cognitive constraints limit whether and how infants learn from media, although they learn under some conditions (e.g., with repetition or parental scaffolding). Throughout early and middle childhood, children use a wider range of media and become better able to comprehend and learn from media. There is an emerging literature suggesting associations between screen time and brain structure in children; however, brain-behavior associations are not well understood. Meta-analytic reviews of research on media and cognitive development report mostly nonsignificant or small negative associations between overall screen time and cognitive outcomes (e.g., self-regulation, attention, language, academic achievement). However, there is substantial variability across studies and individuals, with media effects varying by the content and context of media use. For example, solitary media use (versus parent-child joint media engagement) and use of noneducational or adult-directed content (versus child-directed informational content) are associated with more negative and fewer positive outcomes. This chapter concludes with a future research agenda and recommendations informed by the current literature.

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Do pre-schoolers with high touchscreen use show executive function differences?

Cited by 7 publications

References 40 publications

Associations between Symptom Severity of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Screen Time among Toddlers Aged 16 to 36 Months

Associations between Symptom Severity of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Screen Time among Toddlers Aged 16 to 36 Months

Relationship Between Early Childhood Development and Digital Media Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil

Digital Media, Cognition, and Brain Development in Infancy and Childhood

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