Impact of Childhood Use of Tablets/ Screens – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #994

Impact of Childhood Use of Tablets/ Screens – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #994

Dear Colleagues! This is Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #994 for Pharma Veterans. Pharma Veterans Blogs are published by Asrar Qureshi on its dedicated site https://pharmaveterans.com. Please email to aq.pharmaveterans@gmail.com for publishing your contributions here.

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This blogpost is inspired by the study published in JAMA Pediatrics on August 12, 2024. It is an original investigation, and the authors are Caroline Fitzpatrick PhD, Pedro Mario Pan PhD, Annie Lemieux, MSc; et al. Other studies are also quoted. Links at the end.

A New Study

Question: Do higher levels of early-childhood tablet use undermine emotional regulation, or is the other way round? 

Findings: In this study, child tablet use at age 3.5 years was associated with more expressions of anger and frustration by the age of 4.5 years. Child proneness to anger/ frustration at age 4.5 years was then associated with more use of tablets by age 5.5 years.

Meaning:  These results suggest that early-childhood tablet use may contribute to a cycle that is deleterious for emotional regulation.

The sample was equally distributed across boys and girls. A part of the analysis showed that an increase of 1.15 hours per day was associated with a 22% increase in anger/ frustration at age 4.5 years.

This study is being cited very frequently because the issue is common in all populations. Wherever parents afford, they give a dedicated tablet to a child at a very early age. Or the child starts using an adult’s tablet and then becomes eligible to get one for himself/herself. 

Other Studies

A more common situation is that the parents will give tablet or smart phone to distract a child when he/she throws tantrums. Cleveland Clinic says, “when parents use screen time to calm and child’s emotions, what they are actually doing is teaching them that it works as opposed to teaching a child that they can manage their own feelings”. So, what can parents do to prevent that from happening? Dr. Manos says, “when a child is having a tantrum, the parents need to teach their child how to manage their emotions instead of trying to distract them. 

“Frequent use of devices like smartphones and tablets to calm upset children ages 3-5 was associated with increased emotional dysregulation in kinds, particularly in boys” according to a Michigan Medicine study.

Manwell et al. reported that ““Excessive screen time (i.e., >>2–3 h/day exposure to electronic media including television, computers, and mobile electronic devices) has been shown to affect brain development (i.e., structure and function) and increase the risk of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disorders in adolescents and young adults by negatively impacting attention and concentration, learning and memory, emotional regulation and social functioning, physical health, and development of mental disorders and substance use.”

Discussion

The impact of early childhood tablet use on the emotional regulation of children is a topic of growing concern and research. Emotional regulation refers to a child's ability to manage and respond to their emotions in a healthy and socially appropriate manner. Early tablet use has been shown to influence certain aspects of child development.

Reduced Opportunities for Direct Human Interaction

Tablet use can lead to reduced face-to-face interactions with caregivers and peers. These interactions are crucial for developing emotional regulation as children learn to recognize, express, and manage their emotions through social cues and feedback from others. Excessive screen time may limit these opportunities, potentially delaying the development of essential emotional skills.

Impact on Attention and Self-Control

Tablets often provide immediate gratification and constant stimulation, which can affect a child’s ability to develop self-control and patience. The fast-paced nature of digital content might hinder a child's ability to focus on tasks that require sustained attention, which is closely linked to emotional regulation.

Altered Stress Response

Some studies suggest that excessive screen time in early childhood can alter the body's stress response. For example, children might become more easily frustrated or distressed when they are not engaged with a screen, as they may not have learned other ways to soothe themselves or manage their emotions without digital assistance.

Dependence on Technology for Emotional Regulation

Children who frequently use tablets might come to rely on them as a primary tool for coping with emotions. For instance, a child might turn to a tablet when feeling bored, anxious, or upset instead of learning to manage those feelings through other activities or interpersonal interactions. This dependence can hinder the development of more diverse and adaptive emotional regulation strategies.

Sleep Disruption and Emotional Dysregulation

Excessive tablet use, especially before bedtime, can interfere with sleep quality, which is crucial for emotional regulation. Poor sleep can lead to irritability, mood swings, and difficulties in managing emotions during the day.

Influence of Content on Emotional Responses

The type of content accessed on tablets also plays a significant role. Exposure to violent or overly stimulating content can lead to increased aggression, anxiety, or fearfulness in children, which can negatively affect their ability to regulate emotions. Conversely, content that promotes calmness and emotional awareness might have a positive effect.

Parental Mediation and its Role

The impact of tablet use on emotional regulation also depends on how parents mediate and guide their child's screen time. When parents engage with their children during tablet use, discussing what they are watching or playing, it can mitigate some negative effects and even support the development of emotional regulation by helping children interpret and understand their emotional responses to what they see.

Developmental Stage Considerations

The age at which a child starts using a tablet and the amount of time spent on it are critical factors. Early childhood is a sensitive period for emotional development, and excessive screen time during this stage might have more pronounced effects compared to older children who may already have established some emotional regulation skills.

Sum Up

While tablets and other digital devices are becoming an integral part of children's lives, their impact on emotional regulation is complex and depends on various factors, including the amount of screen time, the type of content consumed, and the level of parental involvement. To support healthy emotional development, it is important for parents and caregivers to monitor and regulate tablet use, ensure that children have plenty of opportunities for direct social interactions, and encourage activities that promote emotional learning and regulation.

Concluded.

Disclaimers: Pictures in these blogs are taken from free resources at Pexels, Pixabay, Unsplash, and Google. Credit is given where available. If a copyright claim is lodged, we shall remove the picture with appropriate regrets.

For most blogs, I research from several sources which are open to public. Their links are mentioned under references. There is no intent to infringe upon anyone’s copyrights. If, however, it happens unintentionally, I offer my sincere regrets.

Reference:

JAMA Pediatr. Published online August 12, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.2511

https://c4l.net/can-device-use-in-children-and-teens-lead-to-emotional-dysregulation/

https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2023/04/10/how-screen-time-can-impact-a-childs-emotional-regulation