Parental Technoference and Behavioral-Emotional Development in Early Childhood: A 6-Month Prospective Study

Condition(s) studied

Study summary

This study aims to examine the relationship between parental technoference (parents' use of smartphones or other digital devices while spending time with their children) and behavioral and emotional development in early childhood.

The study will include parents of children aged 24 to 60 months who attend a pediatric outpatient clinic. At the beginning of the study, parents will complete an online questionnaire that includes questions about their own smartphone screen time, their child's screen exposure, and standardized questionnaires assessing parental technoference and children's behavioral and emotional characteristics.

Six months after the initial assessment, parents will be contacted again to complete a short follow-up questionnaire, including the behavioral and emotional assessment. The study does not involve any medical intervention or experimental treatment. All participation is voluntary, and responses will be collected anonymously.

The findings of this study are expected to contribute to a better understanding of how parental digital device use during daily interactions may be associated with children's emotional and behavioral development in early childhood.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Child Behavioral and Emotional Difficulties (SDQ Total Difficulties Score) — Baseline and 6 months
  Children's behavioral and emotional difficulties will be assessed using the parent-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The primary outcome is the SDQ Total Difficulties Score measured at baseline and at 6-month follow-up.

Trial sites (1)

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