ASSOCIATION BETWEEN OVERUSE OF SCREEN AND BEHAVIOURAL DEVELOPMENT AMONG PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN UDAIPUR.

Author Name: 1. Mr. Utsav Jain, 2. Dr. M. U. Mansuri, 3. Dr. Shobha Kundgol

Volume/Issue: 05/09

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/02.2025-77697763/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. D. Nursing Scholar, Sai Tirupati University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
2. Dean, Department of Nursing, Sai Tirupati University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
3. Professor, Venkateshwar College of Nursing, Sai Tirupati University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

ABSTRACT

Background: Over the past centuries, technologies have come a long way and completely changed the human communication system. Internet is one such revolution, which has completely changed the way people look at the world in the field of media, information, and knowledge in day today life.1 People of all age groups are so obsessed nowadays to internet use, that many psychologists termed it as internet addiction. Like pathological gambling, it is also an impulse control disorder that does not involve the use of any intoxicating drug (B. Young, 2006).2 It is a non-chemical and behavioural addiction occurs due to maladaptive use of the internet that leads to social and functional impairment (Solomon, 2009). According to various reports and researches, it has been found that internet develops obsession among people to be continuously online, which significantly alter the perception for the device1. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between screen time and developmental and behavioural problems of children. The study was conducted on the association between overuse of screen and behavioural development among young children. Material & Method: A cross-sectional research design was used to carry out the study. We have studied a number of 472 children randomly between the age group of 3 years to 6 years in Udaipur. The study includes the time of screen media used (including smart phones, computers, laptop, tablets, television, video games, kindle etc.) and psychological development and behavioural changes. Results: More than 1 hour par day of daily screen time were associated with behavioural issues like less curiosity, lower self-control, more distractibility, sleep related issues, tantrums, more difficulty making friends, less emotional stability, being more difficult to care for, and inability to finish tasks. Moderate use of screens (4 h/day) was also associated with psychological issues. Non-users and low users of screens generally did not differ in well-being. Associations between screen time and behavioural issues were larger among younger children with excessive screen users. The largest effect size appeared for self-control (d = −0.41), which included perseverance, sitting still, completing simple tasks, and not becoming distracted; both high and moderate users of screens displayed significantly lower self-control than low users. In terms of relative risk, high (vs. low) users of screens were twice as likely to often lose their temper (RR 1.99, CI 1.44, 2.77) and were 46% more likely to not be able to calm down when excited (RR 1.46, CI 1.13, 1.88). Preschool children with moderate screen use were also lower in well-being than those at low levels of use. Conclusion: the study shows a negative association between screen time and behavioural development among children. Across a diverse array of well-being measures, including measures of self-control, relationships with caregivers, emotional stability, psychological well-being was progressively lower from 1 h a day of screen time to 7 or more hours a day of screen time, particularly among adolescents. The significant association between screen time and well-being may have important clinical implications for the mental and physical health of children and for developing guidelines for specific screen time limits for children

Key words: Screen overuse, Behavioural development, preschool children, caregivers.