Screen media dependency and its associated factors among preschool children in Kuala Lumpur

Abdul Hadi, Azwanis and Abd Latip, Nurul Akmal and Mohammad Aidid, Edre (2023) Screen media dependency and its associated factors among preschool children in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 19 (3). pp. 204-214. ISSN 1675-8544 E-ISSN 2636-9346

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Abstract

Introduction: Excessive screen time among young children is associated with screen dependency. At this moment, there is a lack of data on screen dependency among young children in Malaysia. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of screen dependency and its associated factors among preschool children in Kuala Lumpur. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at registered preschools in Kuala Lumpur. 300 parents of preschool children aged 4 to 6 years old who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited via simple random sampling. The Screen Dependency Scale (SDS) were used to assess their dependency to screen media. Univariate and multivariate statistics were analysed using IBM SPSS version 27. Results: The prevalence of screen dependency among preschool children in Kuala Lumpur was 65.7%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that using the screen to resolve children’s quarrels (aOR 2.855, 95% CI 1.187 - 6.868), children who use smartphones (aOR 2.735, 95% CI: 1.244 - 6.013), children’s screen time exceeds 2 hours over the weekend (aOR 2.261, 95% CI: 1.058 - 4.830) and having a television in the bedroom (aOR 5.562, 95% CI: 1.591 - 19.442) were predictors for screen dependency. While active co-use mediation (aOR 0.505, 95% CI: 0.302 - 0.845) were protective. Conclusion: The prevalence of screen dependency was high among preschool children in Kuala Lumpur. Active screening at health care clinics or in schools is essential to identify early children with risk factors for screen dependency. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences (2023) 19(3):204-214. doi:10.47836/mjmhs19.3.26

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Screen media, Dependency, Preschool, Children, Malaysia
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics R Medicine > RZ Other systems of medicine
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Medicine Kulliyyah of Medicine > Department of Community Medicine (Effective: 1st January 2011) Kulliyyah of Medicine > Department of Family Medicine (Effective: 1st January 2011)
Depositing User:	SR NUR FARHANA LATFI
Date Deposited:	02 Jun 2023 15:44
Last Modified:	04 Dec 2023 12:07
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/104876

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