Exploring the Reliability and Validity of the TechU-Q to Evaluate Device and Purpose Specific Screen Use in Preschool Ch
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Exploring the Reliability and Validity of the TechU-Q to Evaluate Device and Purpose Specific Screen Use in Preschool Children and Parents Erin K. Howie
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Shelley McNally1 Leon M. Straker2 ●
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Published online: 5 August 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Young children are increasingly using mobile technology, with potential for positive and negative developmental consequences. Parents are responsible to guide children in their use of technology based on recommendations and guidelines. Guidelines for screen use in young children have been based on little empirical information on contemporary screen use. This study surveyed parents of young children (n = 96, mean child age 3.0, SD 1.0 years) from three settings (Australia, United States) to test the reliability and validity of a new tool to capture richer data on technology use within a techno-microsystem. The TechU-Q demonstrated reasonable test-retest reliability and face and construct validity. Young children averaged more than 60 min per day of total technology use, mostly using TV, tablet computers, and mobile phones. The primary purposes for child use were educational and watching videos. Parental attitudes towards technology and parent use were associated with their child’s use. Future guidelines should utilize detailed descriptions of technology use by device and purpose to provide more relevant advice on technology use for young children. Keywords Technology Screens Sedentary Young child Quantitative ●
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Highlights The TechU-Q was found to be reliable and valid for assessing young children’s and parents’ technology use. ● Child technology use was associated with parent technology use. ● Parents had generally neutral attitudes towards young children’s technology use, with primary concerns related to technology use decreasing physical activity and increasing sedentary time. ●
Governments and national agencies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Australian Department of Health have issued public health guidelines for screen use by young children (Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology 2017; Council on Communications and Media American Academy of Pediatrics 2016; Department of Health 2017), while an understanding of contemporary screen use by young children and its impacts lags behind. These guidelines are
* Erin K. Howie [email protected] 1
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
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Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
created to help parents and families navigate technology use practices of their children. Previous guidelines have been revised due to the changing nature of screens in families (Przybylski and Weinstein 2017), childcare, and educational needs (Commonwealth of Australia 2009), including the increasing availability of mobile touch screen devices (MTSD) such as smartphones and tablet computers. In 2017, adult smartphone ownership in Australia was at 88% (Drumm et al. 201
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