Fostering screen-free emotion regulation in generation alpha: an age-stratified focus group study of developmental shifts in tantrum management

Nirwanawati, Salwa and Faradisa, Luthfah Naily and Ervyanna, Ellanda Rima and Rondhianto, Rondhianto and Pairoh, Hasanah (2026) Fostering screen-free emotion regulation in generation alpha: an age-stratified focus group study of developmental shifts in tantrum management. Journal of Rural Community Nursing Practice, 4 (2). pp. 189-220. E-ISSN 2986-7401

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Abstract

Background: Generation Alpha is growing up in a device-saturated environment where device-dependent tantrum soothing is an early entry point into later screen and behavioral addiction, since poor childhood self-regulation predicts addiction decades later. Purpose: As part of developing a Javanese local wisdom parenting framework, this needs-assessment phase compared caregiver experiences with toddler and preschooler tantrums. By identifying key developmental targets for self-regulation, the study provides an empirical foundation to inform future local wisdom based interventions as an alternative to gadget-dependent soothing. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study used two age-stratified focus group discussions with reflexive thematic analysis. Participants were 16 purposively sampled caregivers in Jember, Indonesia: 8 caregivers of toddlers (1.5-3 years) and 8 of preschoolers (3.1-4.5 years), with audio-recorded, group-coded transcripts. Results: Analysis yielded four toddler themes and five preschool themes, synthesized into five comparative themes spanning emotion regulation, gadgets as control versus instant soother, meaningful-activity substitution, nutritional fulfillment, and parent-child dynamics, revealing a continuum from externally regulated, gadget-assisted soothing toward child-initiated coping, negotiated screen use, and egalitarian communication. Conclusions: Tantrum-management strategies shift from externally regulated soothing toward dialogic, autonomy-supportive approaches. Community and family health nurses should stage self-regulation counseling by developmental phase and operationalize the findings from this study as an initial, evidence-based reference point for a future local-wisdom family nursing strategy during home visits, supporting an addiction-free Generation Alpha

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Generation alpha, Emotional regulation, Screen addiction, Local wisdom parenting, Focus group discussion
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General) R Medicine > RT Nursing > RT89 Specialities in nursing R Medicine > RT Nursing > RT89 Specialities in nursing > RT90 Teaching (Including nursing education and patient education)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Education Kulliyyah of Nursing > Department of Professional Nursing Studies
Depositing User:	Asst. Dr. Hasanah Pairoh
Date Deposited:	20 Oct 2026 16:16
Last Update:	20 Oct 2026 16:16
Queue Number:	2026-10-Q5738
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/132117
Indexed In:	Google Scholar

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