Department of Nursing, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea.
National Agency for Development of Innovative Technologies in Korean Medicine, National Institute of Korean Medicine Development, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
PLoS One. 2021 Mar 1;16(3):e0244276. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244276. eCollection 2021.
The purpose of the present study was to identify smartphone use patterns associated with problematic smartphone use (PSU) among preschool children. Little is known about PSU patterns in younger children, although the age for first smartphone use is decreasing.
We applied a cross-sectional study design to analyze data obtained from a nationwide survey on smartphone overdependence conducted in 2017 by the South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency. Data from 1,378 preschool children were analyzed using binomial logistic regression analysis. This study was conducted in compliance with STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology).
Seventeen percent of the sample met the criteria for PSU. The odds of PSU significantly increased with frequent smartphone use and in children who used a smartphone for more than two hours per day. Using smartphones to watch TV shows or videos for entertainment or fun significantly increased the odds of PSU, whereas using smartphones for education, games, and social networking did not.
The findings indicate that one of five preschool children using smartphones could experience PSU. Compared to other age groups, PSU in young children may be more associated with their caregivers. To prevent PSU in preschool children, caregivers need information about the total screen time recommended for children, smartphone use patterns associated with PSU, suggestions for other activities as possible alternatives to smartphone use, and strategies to strengthen children's self-regulation with regards to smartphone use.
本研究旨在确定与学龄前儿童中存在问题的智能手机使用（PSU）相关的智能手机使用模式。尽管首次使用智能手机的年龄在不断下降，但对于年龄较小的儿童的 PSU 模式知之甚少。
我们采用横断面研究设计，对韩国科学技术信息通信部和国家信息社会局于 2017 年进行的关于智能手机过度依赖的全国性调查所获得的数据进行了分析。使用二项逻辑回归分析对 1378 名学龄前儿童的数据进行了分析。本研究符合 STROBE（加强观察性研究的报告）标准。
样本中有 17%符合 PSU 的标准。频繁使用智能手机和每天使用智能手机超过两小时的儿童，其发生 PSU 的几率显著增加。使用智能手机观看电视节目或视频娱乐或娱乐显著增加了 PSU 的几率，而使用智能手机进行教育、游戏和社交网络则没有。
研究结果表明，使用智能手机的学龄前儿童中，五分之一可能会出现 PSU。与其他年龄组相比，幼儿的 PSU 可能更多地与他们的照顾者有关。为了预防学龄前儿童出现 PSU，照顾者需要了解为儿童推荐的总屏幕时间、与 PSU 相关的智能手机使用模式、将智能手机作为其他活动的替代方案的建议，以及增强儿童自我调节智能手机使用的策略。
