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Screen Time, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Childhood Mental Health on...
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Screen Time, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Childhood Mental Health on Child and Adolescent Development: Current Research and Future Directions

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Pediatric Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 March 2025 | Viewed by 7345

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hermano Alexandre Lima Rocha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
2. Departamento de Saúde Comunitária, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
Interests: child development; maternal and child health; global health; epidemiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Luciano Lima Correia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Community Health, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
Interests: child development; maternal and child health; global health; epidemiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the increasing use of digital devices and technology, children and adolescents are spending more time than ever before in front of screens. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that can have a negative impact on a child's development and long-term health. Recent studies have shown an association between excessive screen time and ACEs, with children who spend more time in front of screens being more likely to experience ACEs such as neglect, abuse, and household dysfunction. This may be due to a range of factors, including reduced parental supervision and increased exposure to violence and other negative content online. Excessive screen time may also have a negative impact on a child's mental health, making them more vulnerable to the effects of ACEs. However, further research is needed to fully understand the complex relationship between screen time and ACEs.

Numerous studies have investigated the impact of screen time, adverse childhood experiences, and childhood mental health on child and adolescent development, and the topic has received widespread attention and citations from the scientific community. This call for publications seeks to bring together the latest research findings and explore the current state of knowledge on this important issue.

Topics of interest of this Special Issue include, but are not limited to:

The cognitive effects of screen time, adverse childhood experiences, and childhood mental health on children and adolescents;

The impact of social media use on adolescent social and emotional development;

The effects of screen time, adverse childhood experiences, and childhood mental health on sleep patterns and mental health;

The role of parental involvement and screen time, adverse childhood experiences, and childhood mental health limits on child and adolescent development;

The potential benefits and drawbacks of educational technology for young learners.

Contributions are welcomed from researchers across a range of disciplines, including psychology, neuroscience, education, and public health. We invite original research articles, reviews, and meta-analyses that add to our understanding of the impact of screen time, adverse childhood experiences, and childhood mental health on child and adolescent development.

Dr. Hermano Alexandre Lima Rocha
Dr. Luciano Lima Correia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • child development
  • screen time
  • nutritional status
  • social determinants of health
  • stress, psychological
  • poverty
  • educational status

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 703 KiB  
Article
Examination of the Life Habits of Preschool Children Based on Their Screen Use Patterns
by Tuğba Yazıcı Çakıroğlu and Özkan Sapsağlam
Children 2024, 11(7), 856; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070856 - 14 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1155
Abstract
Children who open their eyes to a digital world begin interacting with screens in the early years of life. The interaction between screens and children starts from the very first moments of life and intensifies over time. The aim of this study is [...] Read more.
Children who open their eyes to a digital world begin interacting with screens in the early years of life. The interaction between screens and children starts from the very first moments of life and intensifies over time. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of screen use patterns on the life habits of preschool children. In this context, the relationships between problematic media use, eating habits, and self-care skills among preschool children are analyzed from various perspectives. Structured according to a mixed-methods research approach, this study employs both qualitative and quantitative research designs. The study group consists of 582 children continuing their education in preschool institutions across seven different regions and nine different provinces in Turkey, along with 20 of their parents. Random and non-random sampling methods were used to form the study group. Quantitative data were collected using the Problematic Media Use Measure, Children’s Eating Behavior Inventory, and Preschool Children (36–72 months) Self-Care Skills Scale—Teacher Form, while qualitative data were gathered through a semi-structured parent interview form. The study results indicate that problematic media use and eating behaviors significantly vary according to the screen time of children, with an increase in problematic media use linked to a rise in negative eating behaviors. Parents are found to perceive the use of media devices during mealtime as a necessity, thus employing them, and believe that their children’s social behaviors are shaped according to screen content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Screen Time, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Childhood Mental Health on Child and Adolescent Development: Current Research and Future Directions)
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17 pages, 271 KiB  
Article
The Relationship between Cyber Violence and Cyber Sex Crimes: Understanding the Perception of Cyber Sex Crimes as Systemic Issues
by Eugene Lee and Hye Eun Lee
Children 2024, 11(6), 682; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11060682 - 4 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1632
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between cyber violence and cyber sex crimes, specifically focusing on these crimes as systemic issues among adolescents. The research highlights the severe impact of cyber sex crimes, characterized by the non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit content. It examines [...] Read more.
This study examines the relationship between cyber violence and cyber sex crimes, specifically focusing on these crimes as systemic issues among adolescents. The research highlights the severe impact of cyber sex crimes, characterized by the non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit content. It examines various factors that may contribute to witnessing cyber sex crimes, including exposure to violent online content, personal experiences of cyber violence (either as a victim or perpetrator), and the role of parental and teacher interventions. Utilizing data from a nationwide survey conducted by the Korea Communications Commission, the study analyzes responses from 9016 adolescents in 2021 and 9693 in 2022. This analysis reveals significant predictors of witnessing cyber sex crimes and examines how perceptions of cyber violence and interventions of authoritative figures may influence adolescents’ perception of cyber sex crimes as either systemic or individual issues. With females disproportionately affected, the findings underscore a gendered aspect of cyber violence. Furthermore, these insights suggest that perceiving cyber violence as a serious issue leads to viewing cyber sex crimes as systemic problems necessitating societal intervention. The study advocates for enhanced digital literacy education and systemic changes to protect adolescents from the widespread threats of cyber violence and sex crimes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Screen Time, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Childhood Mental Health on Child and Adolescent Development: Current Research and Future Directions)
19 pages, 284 KiB  
Article
Recognizing the Frequency of Exposure to Cyberbullying in Children: The Results of the National HBSC Study in Serbia
by Milica Kangrga, Dejan Nikolic, Milena Santric-Milicevic, Ljiljana Rakic, Tatjana Knezevic, Goran Djuricic, Jasna Stojkovic, Natasa Radosavljevic, Sladjana Mihajlovic, Biljana Medjo and Milan Lackovic
Children 2024, 11(2), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11020172 - 29 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1769
Abstract
Nowadays, children are able to enrich their reality via the Internet. Unfortunately, this may increase their risk of becoming victims of cyberbullying. We analyzed the health characteristics and risk behavior of two cohorts of children in Serbia; those who reported being exposed to [...] Read more.
Nowadays, children are able to enrich their reality via the Internet. Unfortunately, this may increase their risk of becoming victims of cyberbullying. We analyzed the health characteristics and risk behavior of two cohorts of children in Serbia; those who reported being exposed to cyberbullying and those who did not. The statistical differences and logistic regression models were applied to the data on 3267 students collected from 64 schools participating in the 2017 Serbian Study on health behavior in school-age children (HBSC). Children exposed to cyberbullying reported having the following health problems on a daily basis: headache (18.5%), back pain (19.5%), depression (21.6%), irritability or bad mood (17.7%), nervousness (16.0%), sleep problems (16.1%), and dizziness (21.2%). As for the different types of risk behavior, cigarette smoking ranging from six to nine days ever was the most prevalent (26.9%). It was followed closely by getting drunk more than 10 times ever (24.1%). Compared to non-victims, victims were found to be at a higher risk of perceived back pain (OR = 2.27), depression (OR = 1.43), irritability or bad mood (OR = 2.07), nervousness (OR = 2.23), and dizziness (OR = 2.43) as well as being injured once or twice (OR = 1.98) or three or more times (OR = 4.09). Victims were associated with further risk factors: having smoked more than five cigarettes ever in life (OR = 1.73) and having gotten drunk two to three times (OR = 1.71) or four or more times (OR = 1.65). As the number of school-age children using social media continues to rise, we must prioritize educating them about self-help and community resources for addressing related health issues with greater speed and intensity. The findings from Serbia suggest that while children may be aware of their health issues, they may be unaware of their link to cyberbullying, which could hinder their ability to address these issues promptly. The respondents’ attention to the health implications of cyberbullying could be increased by reformulating the survey questions used in the HBSC study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Screen Time, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Childhood Mental Health on Child and Adolescent Development: Current Research and Future Directions)
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Review

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24 pages, 1105 KiB  
Review
Measurement Method Options to Investigate Digital Screen Technology Use by Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review
by Amber Beynon, Danica Hendry, Charlotte Lund Rasmussen, Andrew L. Rohl, Rebecca Eynon, George Thomas, Sarah Stearne, Amity Campbell, Courtenay Harris, Juliana Zabatiero and Leon Straker
Children 2024, 11(7), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070754 - 21 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1747
Abstract
The role and potential impact of digital screen technology in the lives of children is heavily debated. Current evidence is limited by the weakness of measures typically used to characterise screen use, predominantly proxy- or self-reports with known inaccuracy and bias. However, robust [...] Read more.
The role and potential impact of digital screen technology in the lives of children is heavily debated. Current evidence is limited by the weakness of measures typically used to characterise screen use, predominantly proxy- or self-reports with known inaccuracy and bias. However, robust and detailed evidence is needed to provide practical trustworthy guidance to families and professionals working with families. The purpose of this paper is to support researchers to select measurement method(s) that will provide robust and detailed evidence. The paper outlines the challenges in measuring contemporary screen use by children, using a child–technology interaction model to organise considerations. A range of different methods used to measure digital screen technology use in children and adolescents (i.e., questionnaires, diaries, electronically prompted sampling, direct observation, fixed room cameras, wearable/portable cameras, audio recorders, screen-device onboard logging, remote digital trace logging and proximity logging) are described along with examples of their use and constructs typically measured as well as a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of each method. A checklist and worked examples are provided to support researchers determining the best methods or combination of methods for a research project. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Screen Time, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Childhood Mental Health on Child and Adolescent Development: Current Research and Future Directions)
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