Until now, few studies have tackled the question of how technology is affecting family life and new research says parents wonder if their children would be better off without the mobile devices that have become ingrained in the daily regimen.
Working with a total of 35 parents and guardians of children under the age of nine, the research team conducted in-depth interviews in both one-on-one and small group settings.
Of participating parents, 63 percent were mothers, 26 percent were fathers and 11 percent were grandmothers.
Participating parents and guardians had a mean age of 38 and one third were single parents.
The research team audio-recorded and transcribed the interviews in the interest of distinguishing the major themes.
"One of the striking things about these interviews was that parents thanked us for letting them take part ... for letting them vent their strong feelings and uncertainties about parenting and technology, and for letting them speak with other parents who were going through similar experiences," says lead author Dr. Jenny Radesky, MD, FAAP, assistant professor of pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, and developmental-behavioral pediatrician, Boston Medical Center.
Caregivers expressed discomfort with the technology in their charges' hands, according to the study, reporting that they felt obliged to purchase tablets for school success.
Parents worried about heavy use of the gadgets to the point where they described their children as "hooked" or "addicted."
Their main fears were that interacting with screens instead of peers would reduce social skills, creativity and independent thinking.
Yet there are benefits, and participants in the study appeared to be well aware, citing brain-teaser games and the low price of apps compared to toys.
In addition, the devices keep the children calm and quiet and the technology facilitates communication with far-away members of the family.
The researchers presented their work on Sunday at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in San Diego in the US.
At this same conference, a study was presented saying that more than one third of babies tap on smartphones and tablets before they learn to walk or talk.
By one year of age, one in seven tots spends an hour per day on a mobile device, according to the study.
AFP RELAXNEWS
Tue Apr 28 2015
Parents expressed growing concern over child smartphone use in a new study. - Twin Design/shutterstock.com
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