Screen exposure in Chilean children during early childhood and socio-emotional problems: relationship and directionality

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dc.article.number1589113
dc.catalogadoraba
dc.contributor.authorSoto, Pamela
dc.contributor.authorGodoy, Felipe
dc.contributor.authorNarea Biscupovich, Marigen Soledad
dc.contributor.authorAyala Pereira, Camila
dc.date.accessioned2025-09-03T21:13:41Z
dc.date.available2025-09-03T21:13:41Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Research has found a correlation between screen exposure in early childhood and children’s socio-emotional development, particularly in Global North countries. However, the direction of the effect has not been extensively studied in early childhood, especially in Global South contexts. This study aims to describe the relationship and the bidirectional longitudinal associations between screen exposure and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems among children in Chile.Methods: Using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), 669 Chilean children were measured two times over a two-year period: in 2021 (T1; mean age = 3.5 years) and 2023 (T2; mean age = 5.4 years). Linear regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between screen exposure and internalizing and externalizing problems at T1 and T2 separately. A cross-lagged panel model (CLMP) was used to analyze the bidirectional longitudinal association between time of screen exposure and internalizing and externalizing problems. Results: A higher screen time exposure was significantly associated with the presence of internalizing and externalizing problems in children at T1 (3 years) (β = 0.62, SE = 0.29, p = 0.031; β = 0.79, SE = 0.25, p = 0.002). However, the association at T2 (5 years) was significant only for externalizing problems (β = 0.46, SE = 0.24, p = 0.054). The cross-lagged analysis revealed that externalizing problems at T1 significantly predicted higher screen time exposure at T2 (β = 0.08, SE = 0.04, p = 0.043), whereas higher screen time exposure at T1 did not significantly predict externalizing problems at T2 (β = −0.01, SE = 0.03, p = 0.71). No significant association in the crosslagged analysis was identified for internalizing problems. Conclusion: The results suggest an association between increased screen time and the development of internalizing and externalizing problems in Chilean children. Specifically, the results suggest that children who exhibit high levels of externalizing problems at a young age are more likely to spend more time on screens at an older age. This could be a form of coping mechanism, a result of parental behavior management strategies.
dc.format.extent10 páginas
dc.fuente.origenORCID
dc.identifier.doi10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1589113
dc.identifier.eissn1664-1078
dc.identifier.issn1664-1078
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1589113
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/105554
dc.information.autorucInstituto de Sociología; Soto, Pamela; S/I; 10782
dc.information.autorucEscuela de Psicología; Narea Biscupovich, Marigen Soledad; 0000-0001-7780-7425; 12649
dc.information.autorucInstituto de Sociología; Ayala Pereira, Camila; S/I; 184919
dc.language.isoen
dc.nota.accesocontenido completo
dc.revistaFrontiers in Psychology
dc.rightsacceso abierto
dc.rights.licenseAttribution 4.0 International
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectInternalizing problems
dc.subjectExternalizing problems
dc.subjectScreen time exposure
dc.subjectCross-lagged models
dc.subjectYoung children
dc.subject.ddc150
dc.subject.deweyPsicologíaes_ES
dc.subject.ods03 Good health and well-being
dc.subject.odspa03 Salud y bienestar
dc.titleScreen exposure in Chilean children during early childhood and socio-emotional problems: relationship and directionality
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen16
sipa.codpersvinculados10782
sipa.codpersvinculados12649
sipa.codpersvinculados184919
sipa.trazabilidadORCID;2025-08-25
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