A groundbreaking new study has revealed a significant correlation between screen time in children at age 1 and developmental delays in various domains at ages 2 and 4. Published in the prestigious journal JAMA Pediatrics, the study aimed to establish a connection between the amount of screen time infants consumed at age 1 and their subsequent scores in five key developmental areas: communication, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, problem-solving, and personal and social skills.
Analyzing self-reported data from 7,097 mother-child pairs, researchers discovered a clear link between screen time exceeding one hour at age 1 and developmental delays in communication, fine motor skills, problem-solving, and personal and social skills at age 2. By age 4, the correlation persisted only for delays in communication and problem-solving skills, although the likelihood of these delays decreased.
Notably, the study found that the association between screen time and developmental delays was most pronounced at age 2 when comparing children with mothers reporting four or more hours of screen time to those with less than one hour. The likelihood of developmental delays was significantly higher in communication skills (4.78 times more likely), gross motor skills (1.46 times more likely), fine motor skills (1.74 times more likely), problem-solving skills (2.67 times more likely), and personal and social skills (2.1 times more likely).
At age 4, the association continued to be observed solely in communication and problem-solving skills. Children with mothers reporting four or more hours of screen time at age 1 were 2.68 times more likely to experience delays in communication skills at age 4 and 1.91 times more likely to experience delays in problem-solving skills compared to those with less than one hour of screen time.
The data analysis relied on self-reported surveys collected from a comprehensive study of 7,097 mother-child pairs. Participants were initially recruited between July 2013 and March 2017 from 50 obstetric clinics and hospitals in Japan’s Miyagi and Iwate prefectures. The study was conducted as part of the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study and utilized the Japanese version of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition.
It is important to note that this study provides valuable insights into the potential impact of screen time on early childhood development. As further research delves into this topic, it becomes increasingly clear that moderation and mindful screen use are crucial for promoting healthy development in young children.
Source: The Hill
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