Screen time among Brazilian infants aged 0 to 23 months during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Grant number: 21/03540-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2021
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Human Development Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Alexandra Caldas Osório
• Grantee: Lívia Branco Campos
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (UPM). Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics discouragethe use of electronic devices by children under 2 years. Yet, studies show that this usebegins, on average, at 12 months of age (with television, DVDs and online videos as themost common activities). According to extant studies, parents list a variety ofmotivations to expose their young children to electronic devices (e.g., to distract thechild while they do house chores, for educational purposes or for the child'samusement). In addition, parental stress has been found to associate or even predictgreater exposure to electronic devices. During the pandemic, the available studiespoint to an increase in the use of electronics, including among young children.However, no studies were conducted in Brazil so far. This study aims to: a) characterizethe exposure (by parental report) of young children aged 0 to 23 months to electronicdevices during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil; b) assess parental motivations for itsuse; and c) to analyze the links between parental stress, parental motivations andelectronic device use. The sample will consist of 138 parents of infants and youngchildren aged between 0 and 23 months, living in Brazil. Instruments: Onlinequestionnaire to assess child exposure to electronic devices and another aboutparental motivations for such exposure, both developed from the existing literature;Parental Burnout Assessment (as a measure of parental stress). Data will be collectedonline. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CAMPOS, LIVIA BRANCO; KCRMAR, MARINA; OSORIO, ANA ALEXANDRA CALDAS. Predictors of screen exposure among infants under 2 years of age during the COVID-19 pandemic. INFANT BEHAVIOR & DEVELOPMENT, v. 73, p. 10-pg., 2023-08-28. (21/03540-2)