Effects of the Age at First Use of Smart Devices and the Amount of Time to Use Smart Devices on the Externalizing Problem Behavior of Infants and the Moderating Roles of Maternal Managing Behavior

Abstract

This study examined the influences of infants' age for the first use of smart devices and the amount of time to use them on the externalizing problem behavior as well as investigated whether maternal managing behavior (setting rules on accessing smart devices and monitoring their child's use of smart devices) had moderating effects. The study participants consisted of 521 three to six year old infants (235 boys and 286 girls). The data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and a hierarchical regression. The results of this study indicated that the age at first use of smart devices and maternal managing behavior had significant effects on the externalizing problem behavior of infants. The earlier the infants first used smart devices, the higher the level of externalizing problem behavior.Externalizing problem behavior was also found to be higher when the mothers showed no managing behavior.Second, maternal managing behavior moderated the relation between the age at first use of smart devices and the externalizing problem behavior of infants. The effects of the age at first use of smart devices on the externalizing problem behavior of infants were greater when the mothers did not set rules regarding the use of smart devices and did not supervise children when using smart devices.

Pathway from Maternal Parenting Efficacy, Inappropriate Motives for Allowing Smart Devices, and Smart Device Dependency to Preschoolers’ Ability to Understand Minds

“…, (Eisenberg-Berg & Hand, 1979;B.-S. Park, 1987), (Jones & Prinz, 2005;I.-H. Lee, Choi, & Song, 2013). (Gardner, 2011) 11 Smart Device Dependency and Ability to Understand Minds (Y. K. Kim, Kim, Yoon, & Park, 2018). (B.…”

The social perceptions of young children’s use of smart devices in South Korea: Evidence from big data methodologies

“…A broad array of previous literature documented that using smart devices allowed young children get access to abundant educational content, fostered learning environments, helped the burden of care by supporting parents (Chen et al, 2018;Choi & Ahn, 2020;Oh & Park, 2019). However, the use of smart devices at an early age can also trigger deterioration of physical, emotional, social, cognitive development as well as poor eyesight (Chen et al, 2018;Choi & Ahn, 2020;Kim et al, 2018;Mullins, 2015). The effects of smart devices by young children would depend on how properly and effectively they are used.…”