Electronic media exposure, parental language input, and child vocalizations in rural and peri-urban China

Abstract

To examine the association between electronic media exposure and parental language input, Language Environment Analysis technology was used to collect data on electronic media exposure and parental language input in 158 peri-urban and rural households with children aged 18–24 months in southwestern China. The sounds children made and the sounds they heard were quantified. Multiple linear regression and quantile linear regression were used to determine the relationship between electronic media and the outcomes of interest. The results showed that each hour of electronic media exposure was associated with reduced conversational turn count (p < .05) and child vocalization count (p < .05). A large share of the reduction was driven by the higher quantile of children. Reductions associated with electronic exposure were also observed in number of segments and conversational turns. These results may help explain the association between child electronic media exposure and language delay in an under-studied and at-risk population.

Author contributions

XJ participated in conceptualization, study design, data collection, and data analysis, paper writing, and revision. MZ participated in conceptualization, study design, data collection, and data analysis. ZP and AR participated in paper writing and revision. SR participated in conceptualization and study design. YM participated in conceptualization, study design, data analysis, paper writing, and revision.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.