Jordanian Parental Perception of Screen Time and its Association with Psychological Distress: A Cross-sectional Design

Abstract

BackgroundThe excessive use of electronic devices among children is a global concern due to its negative impact on behavior. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess parents’ awareness of their children’s electronic device use and their perspective on how screen time affects behavior for 4–10-year-olds in Jordan. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to assess parents’ awareness of their children’s electronic device usage. The study included 807 mothers and fathers from Jordan with at least one child aged 4 to 10. The data collection instrument consisted of a self-administered survey with 43 questions, including sociodemographic characteristics and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, categorical Chi-square test, Independent t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. The study followed ethical standards and principles. ResultsA survey of 807 parents in Jordan found that gaming and videos were the most common content watched by children, and 61.3% used devices alone. Only 37.1% of parents believed that device use could improve their children’s psychological growth, while 72.7% and 65.9% believed it could impact negatively their children’s mental and psychological growth, respectively. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire showed that 51.4% of children were normal, while 25.3% were borderline and 23.3% were abnormal. ConclusionChildren in the study used electronic devices excessively and this was linked to severe behavioral problems. Parents should follow AAP guidelines and spend more time with their children through non-electronic activities to improve their behavior.