Infant and preschool childhood Screen time and psychopathology or parental concerns in a Portuguese Sample

Abstract

Objectives: This study intends to characterize the habits of screen time exposure in a sample of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and to assess if there’s a relationship between the proportion of early childhood excessive exposure to screen time and the presence of psychopathology and parental concerns.

Methods: A cross-sectional cohort study of patients in a Child and Adolescent Psychiatric outpatient unit and children followed exclusively in Primary Health Care in the same geographic area was carried out. The information was collected from a self-report filled questionnaire by the caregiver, between October 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. The exposure time was defined according to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations regarding the average daily exposure time.

Results: The need for a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry follow-up consultation and behavior concerns during early childhood are significantly associated with screen time, with a greater proportion within the group with an average daily exposure time higher than recommended (p=0,006 and p=0,032 respectively).

Conclusion: The study found an association between screen time exposure, parent behavior concerns and the need for follow-up in Child and Adolescence Psychiatry outpatient. Further studies are needed in order to better understand this subject.