Abstract
Background
In the context of increased media use and family distress during the pandemic, we examine whether preschooler screen time at age 3.5 contributes to later expressions of anger/frustration at 4.5, while also considering the inverse association.
Methods
Data are from a cohort of 315 Canadian preschool-aged children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parent-reported measures included child h/day of screen time and child temperamental anger/frustration, both measured at 3.5 and 4.5 years of age. Indicators of family distress include use of childcare and child sleep, family income, parenting stress, and parent education, marital and employment status. We also consider child sex as a control variable.
Results
A crossed-lagged panel model revealed continuity in screen time between the ages of 3.5 and 4.5 (ß = 0.68) and temperamental anger/frustration from 3.5 to 4.5 (ß = 0.60). Child screen time at age 3.5 predicted increased proneness to anger/frustration at age 4.5 (ß = 0.14). Anger/frustration at age 3.5 did not predict screen time at age 4.5.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that preschooler screen time during the pandemic may have undermined the ability to regulate negative emotions, a key component of social and academic competence. Supporting parents in implementing healthy media habits post pandemic may benefit young children’s development.
Impact
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Key message: this study observes prospective bidirectional associations between preschoolers screen time and temperamental displays of anger or frustration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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What does it add: we provide evidence that preschool screen time at age 3.5 prospectively contributes to the tendency to react in anger/frustration at age 4.5. In contrast, greater proneness to anger/frustration did not predict later exposure to screen time.
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What is the impact: health practitioners should enquire about media use habits during well-child visits to foster children’s healthy development during the preschool years.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to the participant consent form but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Funding
All phases of this study were supported by an establishment grant from Research Nova Scotia, and insight development grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and the Canada Research Chairs program.
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C.F. conceptualized the study, planned the analyses, and drafted the initial manuscript. G.G.-C. conducted the analyses. C.F., M.-A.B., E.H., R.B., M.C. and G.G.-C. critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
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Fitzpatrick, C., Binet, MA., Harvey, E. et al. Preschooler screen time and temperamental anger/frustration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pediatr Res 94, 820–825 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-023-02485-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-023-02485-6
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