Relationships between the Use of Electronic Media and the Development of Children Aged 2-5 Years in Public Child Development Centers in Songkhla Province

Abstract

This descriptive correlational study aimed to identify the relationships between the use of electronic media and the development of children aged 2-5 years in public child development centers in Songkhla Province. The sample consisted of 210 children and their parents. Participants were selected at 4 child development centers under the Local Government Organization, Songkhla Province, using multi-stage random sampling. Research instruments were: 1) a demographic data questionnaire, 2) a questionnaire on the use of electronic media by children and families, 3) a daily record form on the use of electronic media by children, 4) a developmental surveillance and health promotion manual, as well as 5) an age group record form on developmental surveillance and health promotion. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test. Statistical significance was at   p<.05 level. And results revealed as follows.  

1. Overall child development, and each child development category: From the sample, 62.9% of children had an age-appropriate development. For each category of child development category, the most common identified delayed development was in receptive language (22.9%), followed by personal and social development (10.5 %), expressive language (9.50 %), fine motor (6.7%), and gross motor (3.8%), respectively.

2. Relationships between the use of electronic media and overall child development: The amount of time children used electronic media during weekdays, the amount of time children used electronic media during holidays, and the number of electronic media, were inversely related with age-appropriate overall child development ( =11.939, p=0.001; = 6.861, p=0.009; =7.558, p=0.006, respectively), whereas parents’ participation while children used electronic media was positively related to age-appropriate overall child development ( =12.404, p=0.002). No relationship was found between the content of electronic media and overall child development.

3. Relationships between the use of electronic media for each child development category: The amount of time children used electronic media during weekdays and the number of used electronic media were inversely related with the age-appropriate development in receptive language category ( =9.094, p=0.003; =4.313, p=0.038, respectively. It was also revealed that the amount of time children used electronic media during weekdays was inversely related with age-appropriate development in personal and social category ( =4.683, p=0.030). In addition, the study revealed that the amount of time children used electronic media during weekdays, the amount of time children used electronic media during the holidays, the number of used electronic media, the content of electronic media, and parents’ participation while children were using electronic media, were not related with child development in gross motor, fine motor, or expressive language.