Parental Education and Children's Screen Time

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study was to investigate the efficacy of a parental educational program on reducing screen use, and improving sleep quality and psychosocial adaptations in children aged 4-6 years.

Detailed Description
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A total of 129 parent-child dyads were randomly allocated to two groups: experimental group (receiving parental education, n=63), and control group (daily activities, n=66). Data were collected before and after intervention. Instruments included screen time, Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, and Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17. A linear mixed model analysis was used to examine the efficacy of education intervention.

Official Title
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Parental Educational Intervention Reduces Screen Time and Improves Sleep Disturbances and Attention Problems in Preschool Children: a Clustered Randomized Controlled Study

Conditions
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Screen Time

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: experimental group
* Other: control group


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: children aged 4 6 years with screen time of ≥ 2 h/day. Exclusion Criteria: cerebral palsy, mental retardation psychosis Down's syndrome chronic disease hearing impairment.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 48 Months
Maximum Age: 72 Months

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: A clustered randomized controlled study with a parallel-group design.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: control group<br>received standard school classes and usual activities offered at the kindergarten. Briefly, kindergarten activities included daily learning activities, outdoor activities, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and nap time. | Behavioral: experimental group<br>* This program was carried out for 50 min/week over 8 weeks to empower parents with knowledge and self-efficacy about children's screen use, and motivate them to monitor and change their children's screen behaviors. Teaching strategies included lectures, group discussions, reflection, role playing, and peer sharing (Table 1). Topics included 1) parents' and children's screen use, 2) the relationship between network equipment and children's internet use, 3) the positive and negative effects of excessive screen use on children's physical and psychological development, 4) limiting screen use at mealtimes and bedtime, 5) strategies for screen-related devices, 6) alternative activities to screen use, such as board games and outdoor activities, 7) setting a target of appropriate screen times, and 8) encouraging the signing of a contract between parents and children to limit screen time. We also provided parents with a handbook of the course content.<br>* Other names: parental educational program;Other: control group<br>* received standard school classes and usual activities offered at the kindergarten. Briefly, kindergarten activities included daily learning activities, outdoor activities, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and nap time.<br>* Other names: usual activity;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| screen time | children's screen time, was measured by parents as the time children spent watching TV/DVD/videos, playing TV games, and using a computer on weekdays and weekends. | one week assessment |