Publication:

Digital media use among children under five: an insight into socio-demographic factors and immediate behavioural outcomes

Background With advancement and increasingly accessibility of digital technology, digital devices have become integral part in every household.  Sociodemographic factors influence digital media use, yet data from tertiary care settings in India remain limited. This study provides important insights into how various sociodemographic factors influence children's screen time and its association with behavioral problems.

Methods An observational study was conducted among under five children attending a tertiary care hospital. Parents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire about sociodemographic characteristics, availability & usage of digital devices and behavioral issues observed. Data were analyzed using SPSS.

Results The study included 384 children aged below five years. The mean age was 29.4 months, with male predominance (57%). The median number of family members was 5, 80% of households had two or more digital devices. The mean screen-time was 72.3 minutes per day and 49.2% of children had excessive screen time while only 32.4% consumed educational content. 58.7% of parents had not set time limits for screen usage. Younger age, higher socioeconomic class, lower paternal education, early initiation of screen exposure, greater access to devices, were all significantly associated with excessive screen-time. 14.8% of all participants exhibited behavioral changes associated with screen use.

Conclusions Excessive screen time is highly prevalent among under five children. It is strongly influenced by sociodemographic factors and is linked to behavioral problems. A balanced approach to screen time in early childhood can reduce negative outcomes.