Smart Device Usage-Related Factors are Correlated with Self-Regulation Ability in Early Childhood

Cho, Sang Yeun; So, Hye Jin; Lim, Sung Min; Koh, Min Sook; Song, Kil Yun; Moon, Jin Hwa

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the relationship between the smart devices usage-related factors and self-regulation ability development in early childhood.
METHODS
Parental questionnaires of 187 children aged 3-6 years were analyzed. The metrics included smart device usage frequency (times/week, scored as uFreq), smart device usage time (hours/day, scored as uTime), parental scale for appropriate smart device usage level (scored as uLevel), the Korean-developmental screening test (K-DST), and the scale for self-regulation ability in young children (scored as SRS, and including four sub-categories: self-appraisal, self-determination, behavior inhibition, and emotionality). The correlations were analyzed by total age group and by each age.
RESULTS
In the total age group analysis, uFreq and uTime were negatively correlated with mean SRS (rs =âˆ’0.366, âˆ’0.330; P < 0.001) and sub-category SRS (rs =âˆ’0.186 to âˆ’0.370; P < 0.05). Mean uLevel score was positively correlated with mean SRS (rs =0.406; P < 0.001) and most of the mean sub-category SRS (rs =0.174 to 0.362; P < 0.05). In 3-year-old children, the mean SRS was strongly negatively correlated with uFreq (rs =âˆ’0.751; P < 0.001), negatively correlated with uTime (rs =âˆ’0.518; P < 0.001), and positively correlated with mean uLevel score (rs =0.533; P=0.013). Such correlations seemed to decrease at the age of 4-6 years.
CONCLUSION
Self-regulation ability was significantly correlated with smart device-related factors and was the highest in the 3-year-old children. Encouraging appropriate smart device usage will be helpful for self-regulation development of young children.