Investigation of the relationships between ADHD risk and digital screen exposure in children aged 4–11: A large population study in Turkey

• Published in: Psychology in the schools 2023-04, Vol.60 (4), p.1262-1278
• Main Author: Gunuc, Selim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ADHD; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Children; Clinical assessment; Computer & video games; Computer Use; Correlation; Daughters; digital screen; Distraction; Infants; Language acquisition; Measures; mother; Mothers; Native language acquisition; neonatal; Parent-child relations; Personal information; Pregnancy; prenatal; Prenatal Influences; prevalence; Research methodology; Toddlers
• ISSN: 0033-3085; 1520-6807
• DOI: 10.1002/pits.22839

This study investigated whether some factors regarding especially pregnancy and post‐pregnancy and 0–36‐month‐old infants’ exposure to digital screens played a role in the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) scores of 4–11‐year‐old children. The cross‐sectional research method was used. The sample consisted of the mothers of 2835 (48.2%) daughters and 3042 (51.8%) sons. The children of the mothers in the sample were between 4 and 11 years old. The mothers were asked to fill in the personal information form about their children and the Conners Parent Rating Scale to determine the ADHD score of the child. The main results revealed associations between ADHD and digital screen exposure at 0–36 months. In conclusion, exposure to digital screen—whether much or little—for the purposes of feeding, silencing, distraction, language acquisition, and digital gaming might pose a serious risk for ADHD. Practitioner points The prevalence based on the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) total‐scores was found to be 16.91%, and on the ADHD‐Index (including DSM criteria) was calculated as 9.72% in the research population. Significant differences were found in terms of ADHD related to some pregnancy and post‐pregnancy factors. There were relationships between ADHD and exposure to digital screen at 0–36 months. Exposure to digital screen, whether much or little (frequently or rarely), for the purposes of feeding, silencing/distraction, language acquisition (even if for such cognitive benefits) and digital gaming posed a serious risk for ADHD.