%0 Journal Article
%T Screen time and social-emotional skills in preschoolers with developmental, behavioural or emotional issues in Singapore.
%A Kiing JS
%A Kang YQ
%A Mulay KV
%A Lim TS
%A Chong SC
%A Tan MY
%A Chan YH
%A Lim AS
%A Aishworiya R
%J Ann Acad Med Singap
%V 53
%N 7
%D 2024 Jul 24
%M 39132958
%F 8.713
%R 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2023384
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>This study aimed to determine patterns of screen viewing time (SVT) in preschool children with developmental, behavioural or emotional (DBE) issues, and to identify its relationship with social-emotional development.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>This cross-sectional study involved children aged 0-5 years who were referred to a developmental paediatric clinic for DBE issues. Parents completed a screen time questionnaire, and the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment-Clinical (DECA-C) question-naire which assessed the social-emotional competence of the children. Data were analysed using logistic regression, correlational analyses and tests of comparison.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Among 225 children (mean age: 32.4 months), mean daily SVT was 138 minutes. More than half (51.1%) of the children had clinical features of language delay, while 26.6% had features suggestive of autism spectrum disorder. Screen time was first introduced at a mean age of 13.8 months, with 32.4% of children previously experiencing higher SVT. Compared to SVT introduction after 1 year of age, SVT in the first 12 months was primarily to facilitate feeding (P<0.05). Children with higher past SVT had poorer attention, more aggression, and increased behavioural concerns. Children with DBE issues have significantly more screen time than same-aged peers.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Children with DBE issues are exposed to SVT at a very young age and have significantly more screen time than their peers. It is crucial to guide parents to reduce SVT in early childhood, particularly around mealtimes.