New Research Shows There is a Modest Connection Between Children’s Use of Tablet and their Angry Outbursts

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found a modest connection between children’s tablet use and frustration. The study found that children who use more tablets at age 3.5 show mild signs of frustration at age 4.5, and children who use tablets at age 4.5 show signs of frustration at age 5.5.

Most of the children in the USA own a mobile device, mostly a tablet. The screen time of children is also increasing. It was five minutes a day in 2020 but jumped to an hour in 2022. Parents often give their children tablets to keep them occupied so they can do different household chores peacefully. However, what these parents do not know is that tablet use can act as a barrier to their children’s emotional regulation skills and can heighten their frustration and anger.

During the early years of childhood, children are learning to regulate and develop their emotions, which help them in adulthood. They mostly develop emotions through social interactions, but the use of tablets limits them from having healthy social interactions with their parents and peers. Study author Caroline Fitzpatrick says that the researchers wanted to understand the relationship between tablet use and frustration and anger in children.

The study surveyed 315 children over two years. The data was collected when the children were ages 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5. The parents gave weekly data about how much tablet their children used daily and how often they became frustrated or angry.

The research found that children who used tablets at 3.5 years showed signs of frustration at 4.5 years. Every one-hour increase in tablet use increased their emotional outbursts by 22% by 4.5 years. Children who showed signs of outbursts at 4.5 years were more likely to use more tablets at 5.5 years.

The researchers said there was no evidence showing that these outbursts became a permanent part of a child’s personality over the years. The researchers also advised parents to monitor children’s screen times and encourage them to spend healthy time with their family. Since the study was conducted during the COVID-19 era, children’s increased tablet use could be linked to pandemic-related changes. The study needs to be repeated in other settings to better understand children’s emotional development.

Image: DIW-Aigen

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