New Research Suggests Screen Time During Infancy Is Associated With Later Developmental Delays
Much like most adults are more than happy to sit back, relax, and scroll on social media, plenty of kids today also love plopping down in front of an iPad or iPhone.
From shows like Bluey to online games like Roblox, there is no shortage of kid-tailored content available on smart devices today.
But while throwing on YouTube Kids or downloading a new game might seem like a harmless way to occupy your child so you can get some stuff done, new research suggests the habit could be detrimental.
According to a recent study conducted by scientists at Tohoku University in Japan, leaving 1-year-old babies in front of screens is associated with developmental delays.
Over 7,000 mother-child pairs participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study. The participating children were almost equally split in terms of gender– 51.8 % were boys, and 48.2% were girls.
The researchers examined these pairs by providing questionnaires to the mothers to determine each child’s screen time exposure. The questionnaire asked about everything from TV watching and video game playing to the use of mobile phones, tablets, and other digital devices with visual displays.
Afterward, the team divided the kids into four different groups depending on screen time exposure. Just over 48% of the children used screens for less than one hour a day; meanwhile, 29.5% had between one and two hours of screen time.
Next, 17.9% of the children were given between two and four hours of screen time. Finally, just 4.1% of the kids were exposed to screens for four or more hours.
The researchers also kept tabs on how each child was progressing in five key areas at ages two and four. These areas included communication, fine motor, gross motor, problem-solving, social and personal skills. Most previous research did not dive into these specific developmental zones, which is why the scientists believe their study provides the most detailed look at this topic.
Nastya_Gepp – stock.adobe.com- illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
Using a reputable statistical technique, they examined the link between screen time at the age of one and developmental delays later on. This analysis revealed a dose-response association– meaning that the amount of screen time (or dose) had a connection with the level of developmental delay.
Greater screen time at the age of 1 showed an association with developmental delays in all key areas aside from gross motor skills by the age of 2 years old. However, by 4 years old, increased screen time was only linked to developmental delays in two areas– problem-solving and communication.
“The differing levels of developmental delays in the domains, and the absence of any detected delay in some of them at each stage of life examined, suggests that the domains should be considered separately in future discussions of the association between screen time and child development,” explained Taku Obara, a corresponding author of the study.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently published evidence suggesting that only a small fraction of kids are meeting guidelines for reducing screen time exposure– which were created to promote social interaction and physical activity. This evidence is what inspired the scientists to conduct this study in the first place.
“The rapid proliferation of digital devices, alongside the impact of the COVID pandemic, has markedly increased screen time for children and adolescents, but this study does not simply suggest a recommendation for restricting screen time,” Obara concluded.
“This study suggests an association, not causation, between screen time and developmental delay. We use the term ‘delay’ in accordance with previous research, but it is debatable whether this difference in development is really a ‘delay’ or not,” Obara continued.
“We would like to gain deeper insight in future studies by examining the effects of different types of screen exposure.”
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in JAMA Pediatrics, visit the link here.
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