Association between the use of mobile touchscreen devices and the quality of parent-child interaction in preschoolers.

ABSTRACT: The early use of mobile touchscreen devices (MTSDs), including smartphones and tablets, may reduce the frequency and quality of social interactions between children and parents, which could impact their relationship and have negative consequences on children's socio-cognitive development. In this study, we applied a parental questionnaire and a behavioral observational method in a laboratory setting (free and structured play sessions) to examine the association between preschool MTSD use and the quantity and quality of parent-child relationships. Our findings revealed that preschoolers who regularly use MTSDs (n = 47, aged 4-7 years, engaging in MTSD use for at least 2 h per week) are spending less time with their parents and exhibited lower quality interactions compared to non-user

SUBMITTER: Liszkai-Peres K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11748892 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature