Affiliation:
1. Department of Community Medicine, School of Public Health, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
2. Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
3. Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
Abstract
Objective: To assess the emotional problems associated with digital-screen exposure (DSE) among 2–5-year-old children in Chandigarh, North India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 randomly selected families with children aged 2–5 years using the validated DSE questionnaire and the standard preschool-child behavior checklist from October 2017 to March 2018. The American (2016) and Indian (2020) Academy of Pediatrics guidelines were followed to define excessive DSE. To estimate the probability for the predictors of emotional problems with DSE, we performed the per-binary multivariate logistic regression model, giving an adjusted odds ratio (AOR), using IBM SPSS Statistics for Macintosh, Version 25.0. Results: The mean age of the children was 3.5 years (standard deviation = 0.9). Nearly 15% of children were with borderline/clinical cases of emotional problems. The significant protective factors for individual emotional problems among children were watching learning media content [Oppositional defiant disorder (AOR = 0.39 CI 0.22, 0.72, p = 0.002)], having DSE less than one hour [Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AOR = 0.19 CI 0.08, 0.43, p<0.0001)], presence of media rules at home [Sleep problems (AOR = 0.03 CI 0.001, 0.69, p = 0.028)], age of initiating DSE before two years [Total emotional problems (AOR = 0.5, 0.22, 0.93, p = 0.03)], and caregivers DSE of less than two hours per day [Depression (AOR = 0.04 CI 0.002, 0.75, p = 0.031)]. While the significant predictors were playing outdoors almost every day [Total emotional problems (AOR = 2.2 CI 1.06, 4.78, p = 0.034)], average activity of less than 30 minutes per day [Total emotional problems (AOR = 2.4 CI 1.22, 4.73, p = 0.01)], boys [Total emotional problems (AOR = 2 CI 1.08, 3.55, p = 0.028)], children aged less than 3.5 years [Total emotional problems (AOR = 1.9 CI 1.05, 3.59, p = 0.03)] and higher socio-economic status [Withdrawn (AOR = 5 CI 1.19, 20.97, p = 0.028)]. Conclusion: There was a moderate prevalence of emotional problems among children with excessive DSE. Specific emotional problems were significantly associated with the DSE among children.