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Cited by 32Child Development and Digital TechnologyChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentImpact of Technology on Adolescents

The growth of problematic media use over early childhood: Associations with long-term social and emotional outcomes

Open access
Coyne, Sarah M., Shawcroft, Jane, Holmgren, Hailey, Christensen-Duerden, Chenae, Ashby, Sarah, Rogers, Adam, Reschke, Peter J., Barr, Rachel +4 more·2024·Computers in Human Behavior
DOI 10.1016/j.chb.2024.108350PMC PMC11258855
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Abstract

Problematic media use (PMU) tends to be related to significant social, emotional, and behavioral problems throughout life. Little research, however, has examined the development of PMU during early childhood, where media habits begin to form. The current longitudinal study examines the growth of PMU across early childhood (between 2.5 and 5.5 years of age) with a focus on predictors and outcomes (social, emotional, and parenting) of the intercept and slope of PMU over time. Participants (N = 269 children and their parents; 4.9% Asian American, 8.2% Black, 21% Hispanic or Latino, 63% White, 7% Mixed or Other race) completed questionnaires assessing PMU, media parenting, parental warmth and connection, and child social and emotional problems. Results indicated slight overall increases in PMU from ages 2.5 to 5.5. Emotional reactivity, aggression, and overall TV time predicted initial levels of PMU. Additionally, initial levels of PMU were related to social and emotional problems four years later. An increasing trajectory of PMU was associated with later aggression in childhood, even when controlling for initial levels of aggression. Implications for parents and prevention efforts aimed at reducing PMU are discussed.

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  • Persuasive digital media that encourage prolonged use and capture attention make disengagement difficult.

    “When digital media are designed to be persuasive, encourage prolonged use, and capture users’ attention, disengagement can be difficult.14,61,62”

    From Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Technical Report (2026) · cites this paper as [62]

    The Abstract (page not provided) describes problematic media use in young children as including difficulty transitioning away from media and fixating on screens. It does not say that persuasive design, prolonged-use features, or attention-capturing design causes that difficulty. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • During early childhood, emotional reactivity, aggression, and overall duration of time spent on TV predict more problematic internet use symptoms.

    “During early childhood, emotional reactivity, aggression, and overall duration of time spent on TV predict more problematic internet use symptoms.62”

    From Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Technical Report (2026) · cites this paper as [62]

    The Results (Main Analyses; page not available) report that emotional reactivity, aggression, and TV viewing time predicted higher initial levels of problematic media use. The Measures section defines the outcome across types of screen media, not specifically internet use; the Results also found no significant predictors of its growth over time. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • In early childhood, symptoms of problematic internet use predict social and emotional problems four years later.

    “In early childhood, symptoms of problematic internet use predict social and emotional problems 4 years later.62”

    From Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Technical Report (2026) · cites this paper as [62]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) says initial levels of problematic media use were related to social and emotional problems four years later. But the Methods > Measures section defines the exposure as use of various types of screen media, not specifically internet use; that narrower part of the claim is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Burnell K, George MJ, & Underwood MK (2021). New media and solitude: Implications for peer relations. In Coplan RJ, Bowker JC, & Nelson LJ (Eds.), A handbook of solitude: Psychological perspectives on social isolation, social withdrawal, and being alone (pp. 254– 267). Wiley-Blackwell.

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Authors
Coyne, S. M., Shawcroft, J., Holmgren, H., Christensen-Duerden, C., Ashby, S., Rogers, A., Reschke, P. J., Barr, R., Domoff, S., Van Alfen, M., Meldrum, M., & Porter, C. L.
Affiliations
  • Brigham Young University (US)
  • University of California, Davis (US)
  • Georgetown University (US)
  • Central Michigan University (US)
Corresponding author
Coyne, Sarah M.
ORCID
Venue
Computers in Human Behavior
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2024-10
Volume
159
Pages
108350
ISSN
0747-5632 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.chb.2024.108350
PMC
PMC11258855
OpenAlex
W4399679157
Cited by
32
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 14
FWCI
40.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Computers in Human Behavior (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (R15HD101969, P01HD109907)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Keywords
problematic media use, early childhood, child social problems, child emotional problems, aggression, emotional reactivity, television viewing time, developmental trajectories

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