Determining Screen Time of Children Between 3-9 Years During COVID-19 Pandemic And Investigation of Factors Related To Screen Time

Abstract

Objective: The first COVID-19 case in Turkey was detected on March 11, 2020, and measures were taken to prevent the epidemic’s progression. As the schools were closed and curfew was imposed on children with periodically updated bans, children had to spend more time at home during the day. In the study, we aimed to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the screen time of children aged 3-9 in Turkey and examine the factors affecting screen time.

Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between May 3, 2020, and May 30, 2020. Throughout Turkey, mothers or fathers with at least one child between the ages of 3 and 9 were invited to the online survey via social media, telephone message groups, or e-mail. The parents who voluntarily answered the online questionnaire constituted the study participants.

Results: A total of 9483 parents with children between the ages of 3 and 9 participated in the study. It was determined that 82.9% of the children participating in the study had increased screen time compared to the pre-pandemic period. The mean increase in screen time was 151±96 minutes/day. The increase was more than one hour per day in 74.9% of the participants (n=5122). The average daily screen time of the children participating in the study on the dates specified during the pandemic period was 193±124, the average time spent for online education was 67±62 minutes/day, and for leisure activities with the screen was 133±121 minutes/day. Screen time was significantly higher in children whose parent did not have a plan for child’s screen use (OR: 3.085, 95% CI, 2.723 to 3.494, p<.0010) or children who did not use the screen under parental control (OR: 1.533, 95% CI, 1.352 to 1.73, p<.001).

Conclusion: During the pandemic, daily screen time increased in a significant number of children, and the time they spent in front of the screen was relatively high. The purpose and duration of screen use varied between preschoolers and school children. Parental attitudes and behaviors were related to children’s screen time during the pandemic period.

Keywords

• Covid-19
• child
• screen time
• pandemic

COVİD-19 Salgını Sürecinde 3-9 Yaş Arasındaki Çocukların Ekran Maruziyet Süresinin Belirlenmesi ve Ekran Maruziyetine Etki Eden Etmenlerin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Türkiye’de ilk COVİD-19 vakası 11 Mart 2020’de tespit edilmiş ve salgının ilerleyişini önlemek için hızlıca tedbirler alınmaya başlanmıştır. COVİD-19 pandemi süresi boyunca çocuklara getirilen sokağa çıkma yasağı, okulların kapatılması ve salgının seyrine göre periyodik olarak yasakların güncelleştirilmesi ile çocuklar gün içerisinde zorunlu olarak evlerde daha fazla zaman geçirmek zorunda kalmıştır. Bu çalışmada COVİD-19 pandemi sürecinin Türkiye’deki 3-9 yaş arasındaki çocukların ekran süresini nasıl etkilenmiş olduğunu belirlemek ve ekran süresine etki eden etmenlerin neler olduğunu incelemek amaçlanmıştır.

Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu çalışma tanımlayıcı-kesitsel tipte bir çalışma olup 3 Mayıs 2020-30 Mayıs 2020 tarihleri arasında yapılmıştır. Türkiye genelinde çevrim içi anket formunun ulaştırılabildiği, 3-9 yaş arasında çocuğu olup anketi dolduran ebeveynler araştırmaya dahil edilmiştir.

Bulgular: Çalışmaya 3-9 yaş aralığında çocuğu olan 9483 ebeveyn katıldı. Çalışmaya katılan çocukların %82.9’unun pandemi öncesi dönem ile kıyaslandığında ekran süresinin artmış olduğu saptandı. Ekran süresindeki ortalama artış 150.84±95.842 dakika/gündü. Katılımcıların %74.9’unda (n=5122) artışın günde bir saatten fazla olduğu gözlendi. Pandemi döneminde belirtilen tarihlerde çalışmaya katılan çocukların günlük ortalama ekran süresi 193.2±123.8, ortalama çevrim içi eğitim süresi 66.8±62.2, çevrim içi eğitimden farklı bir nedenle ekran süresi 133±121.2 dakikaydı. Ebeveynin ekran süresi planının olmaması, ekranı ebeveyn kontrolünde izlememek, ebeveynin çocukla temel aktivitesinin ekran aracılı olması, çocuğun ekran kullanımındaki temel amacının oyun/eğlence olması artan ekran süresi ile ilişkili bulundu.

Sonuç: Pandemi döneminde çocukların önemli bir kısmının günlük ekran süresi artmıştır ve ekran karşısında geçirdikleri süre oldukça fazladır. Yaş gruplarına göre çocukların ekran kullanım amacı ve bu amaca yönelik olan ekran süreleri de değişiklik göstermektedir. Ebeveynlerin tutum ve davranışlarının pandemi döneminde çocukların ekran süresi ile ilişkili olduğu gözlenmiştir.

Keywords

• Covid-19
• çocuk
• ekran süresi
• pandemi

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