Just five more minutes please: electronic media use, sleep and behaviour in young children

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between electronic media use, sleep and behaviour in preschool-aged children between the ages of three and five years. The primary hypothesis of this study was that excessive electronic media use (>2 hours a day) would positively correlate with sleep patterns (in particular, disturbances) and negative behavioural outcomes (specifically, hostile-aggressive, anxious-fearful and hyperactive-distractible behaviours). Overall, many significant results are reported in support of the main hypothesis. For example, there were strong significant positive correlations between the amount of television (TV) watched and hostile-aggressive, anxious-fearful and hyperactive-distractible behaviours and significant negative correlations between amount of sleep and computer use, video game console use and TV viewing. Implications for teachers and parents are discussed, as well as limitations of the current study and questions in need of further exploration.

Keywords:

• sleep behaviours
• media use
• emotional development
• aggression
• anxiety

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Daniel G. Séguin is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His education includes an Honours Degree in developmental Psychology, a Master's Degree in Human Development, and a PhD in Social Development. His areas of expertise are social and emotional development, parenting, emotion regulation, and personality.

Victoria Klimek is a School Psychologist working in Nova Scotia's school system. Ms. Klimek has an honours degree in psychology and a Master's Degree in School Psychology. Her areas of expertise include behavioural assessment and parenting.