Are Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Infants and Children Aged Younger Than 7 Years Related to Screen Time Exposure During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Confinement? An Exploratory Study in Portugal

Frontiers in Psychology

Nuno Barbosa Rocha¹  Rita Monteiro²  Sandra Fernandes³ 

[1] Center for Rehabilitation Research, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal;Ph.D. Program in Educational and Behavioral Sciences, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain;Center for Rehabilitation Research, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal;Portucalense Institute for Human Development (INPP), Department of Psychology and Education, Portucalense University, Porto, Portugal;

关键词: COVID-19 confinement;    children’s well-being;    screen time;    digital media;    emotional problems;    behavioral problems;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2021.590279

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak forced most of the world’s population to be confined at home to prevent contagion. Research reveals that one of the consequences of this confinement for children is an increased amount of time spent using screens (television, computers, and mobile devices, etc.) at home. This exploratory study aims to analyze the association between screen time exposure and emotional/behavioral problems of infants and children aged under 7 years, as manifested during the lockdown period in Portugal due to the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak. The study was controlled for sociodemographic and confinement variables. A sample of 193 parents of children aged from 6 months to 6 years and 12 months, residing in Portugal, completed a survey about the time and manner of use of screen time exposure of their children. Data were derived on circumstances both before and after the confinement; the survey also explored the child’s behavioral and emotional adjustment. The findings revealed a modest relationship between children’s exposure time to screens and behavioral and emotional problems on children studied. It was also found that parents may play an important role in children’s behavioral and emotional adjustment during the confinement period.

【 授权许可】

CC BY