Screen Time and Its Detrimental Influence on Young Children’s Behavioural Development

Abstract

Globally, there is an alarming increase in sedentary behavior among children in both developed and developing countries. Screen time refers to the amount of time a person spends using electronic devices such as televisions, video games, computers, tablets, and smart phones. In recent year, the rapid spread of digital technologies has significantly affected the life of children, with screen-based activities becoming a major component of their daily routines. Excessive screen time can negatively impact on children's physical health and changes of their behavioral pattern, including disrupted sleep patterns, emotional volatility, frequent restlessness, decreased peer interaction, and impaired social skills. The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between students' screen time exposure and various demographic, socio-economic, and behavioral factors. Primary data were collected using a structed questionnaire and the two-stage cluster sampling technique was utilized to select a sample size of 370.Chi-square test, Binary logistic regression and Relative Risk were employed to identify the significant factors associated to extra screen time and risk ratio calculations.  Chi-square test analysis revealed no significant association between excessive screen time which defined as two or more hours per day and factors such as grade level, gender, parental employment status, parental education level, or type of digital device and internet connectivity. However, significant associations were observed with device ownership and gaming addiction, as students who owned digital devices or were addicted to games were more likely to spend excessive time on screens. The study highlights the detrimental effects of excessive screen time on students' interpersonal relationships, physical health, and educational performance. Students exposed to excessive screen time were 4.5 times more likely to have poor relationships with parents, 3.5 times more likely to have strained sibling relationships, and 16 times more likely to exhibit poor social connectivity. Additionally, these students were four times less likely to participate in sports, 5.7 times more likely to face weight-related health issues, and 2.7 times more likely to demonstrate poor academic performance. These findings offer critical insights for policymakers, to establish age-appropriate screen time guidelines, incorporate digital literacy and healthy lifestyle education into school curricula, and support programs that foster physical activity, social engagement, and family involvement.