Excessive Screen Exposure in Infancy, Parental Education and Infant Screen Use
Conditions
Keywords
Infant screen time, Screen exposure, Parental education
Brief summary
This study aims to evaluate whether educating mothers can reduce screen time in infants aged 6-18 months. Early exposure to screens has been associated with potential negative effects on child development, including language delay, attention problems, and cognitive difficulties. Therefore, reducing screen exposure during infancy is considered important. The study is designed as an open-label, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. A total of 92 mother-infant pairs are planned to be included and randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Mothers in the intervention group will receive structured education based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, including practical strategies to manage situations where screen use is commonly introduced (such as feeding or soothing the infant). Educational materials and follow-up guidance will also be provided. The control group will not receive any specific intervention. Data on infants' screen exposure will be collected at baseline and at follow-up visits at 3 and 6 months using structured questionnaires. Sociodemographic characteristics will also be recorded. The primary outcome of the study is the change in infants' screen time over the follow-up period. The findings are expected to provide evidence on whether parental education can be an effective strategy to reduce screen exposure in early childhood and support its integration into primary care practices.
Interventions
OTHERParental Education Intervention
Mothers in this group receive structured education based on American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on infant screen use. The intervention includes a 30-40 minute group-based session, practical strategies to reduce screen exposure, and informational brochures. Follow-up educational reinforcement is provided at 3 months
Sponsors
Dokuz Eylul University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Months to 18 Months
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Mothers with infants aged 6-18 months * Infants with any level of screen exposure * Registered at participating Family Health Centers * Mothers willing to participate and provide informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Infants with known neurological or developmental disorders * Infants with chronic diseases affecting development * Mothers unable to participate in educational sessions * Incomplete follow-up or withdrawal from the study
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in infant screen time | Baseline to 6 months | The primary outcome is the change in infants' daily screen exposure time (minutes/day), assessed using parent-reported questionnaires at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed