Gadget use and developmental status among children aged 2–5 years: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The increasing use of gadgets among young children may reduce opportunities for developmental stimulation through play, communication, and social interaction. Developmental deviations have been identified among children in the working area, indicating the need to examine the relationship between gadget use and child development.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between gadget use and the development of children aged 36–65 months in the working area.

Method: This quantitative study employed a correlational analytic design with a cross-sectional approach. The population consisted of 143 children aged 36–65 months, of whom 105 were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a gadget use questionnaire and the Pre-Screening Questionnaire for Child Development (PQCD). Data were analysed using univariate analysis and the Pearson chi-square test.

Results: The majority of children were aged 48–53 months (32; 30.5%) and were female (57; 54.3%). Most children had high gadget use (47; 44.8%), while 64 children (61.0%) experienced developmental deviations. Among children with high gadget use, 42 (89.4%) experienced developmental deviations, whereas 17 children (63.0%) with low gadget use had appropriate development. The analysis showed a significant relationship between gadget use and child development (χ² = 63.977, p < 0.001), with a contingency coefficient of 0.615, indicating a strong association.

Conclusion: Gadget use was significantly associated with the development of children aged 36–65 months, with a strong association between the two variables. Parents are encouraged to limit children's gadget use, supervise their use, and provide adequate developmental stimulation through play, communication, and social interaction.

Keywords: Child Development; Early Childhood; Gadget Use; PQCD; Preschool Children.