Screen time and language delay in children: A cross-sectional study in a Southeast Asian country

• Main Authors: See, J.K., Jayanath, Subhashini, Azanan, Mohamad Shafiq
• Format: Article
• Published: University of Malaya Medical Centre 2022
• Subjects: RJ Pediatrics
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/43896/; https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85142367328&doi=10.22452%2fjummec.vol25no2.17&partnerID=40&md5=98e71525c3570c5351b7fc1bed6e54d6

Background: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study aimed to ascertain the: (1) prevalence of excessive screen device usage among children with speech and/or language delay, (2) age of first introduction of screen device(s), and (3) association between children’s total screen time and media parenting practices. Methods: 62 children aged 1-5 years who were referred for speech and/or language delay were recruited from a general paediatrics clinic. Data on children’s total screen time, age of exposure to screen device(s), parents’ total screen time and media parenting practices were collected. Results: 56 children (90.3) had excessive screen time. There was a high prevalence of excessive screen time with early exposure to screen devices. A significant positive relationship was found between parents’ and children’s screen time (p=0.010). Children’s screen time was negatively associated with parental encouragement of non-screen activities (p=0.006) and positively associated with parental reduction of screen time as punishment (p=0.015). Conclusions: Parents should model good screen time practices and create opportunities for non-screen based alternative activities within the home environment. Usage of screen time as a means of regulating behaviour should be discouraged. © 2022, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya. All rights reserved.