ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
This study investigates the impact of screen exposure on the behavioural outcomes of pre-school children, focusing on attention, aggression, and sleep disturbances. A total of 156 respondents completed a questionnaire assessing screen time and child behaviour. Data were analysed using Spearman’s rho correlation, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Chi-Square tests to explore associations between screen exposure and behavioural outcomes. Results indicate a significant positive correlation between increased screen time and higher levels of aggression and attention difficulties, while longer screen exposure was also associated with greater sleep disturbances. Socio-demographic factors such as parental education level and income influenced these relationships. This study highlights the need for guidelines on screen time management for young children and underscores the importance of further research to understand the long-term effects of screen exposure on child development. Future studies should explore the causal mechanisms and broader behavioural effects of screen exposure across different socio-cultural contexts.
Arumugam, C., Said, M., & Farid, N. (2021). Screen-based media and young children: Review and recommendations. Malaysian Family Physician, 16(1), 7-13. https://doi.org/10.51866/rv1143
Carson, V., & Janssen, I. (2012). Associations between factors within the home setting and screen time among children aged 0?5 years: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 12, 539.
Chen, J. Y., Strodl, E., Huang, L. H., Chen, Y. J., Yang, G. Y. Y., & Chen, W. Q. (2020). Early electronic screen exposure and autistic-like behaviors among pre-schoolers: The mediating role of caregiver-child interaction, sleep duration, and outdoor activities. Children, 7, 200. https://doi.org/10.3390/children7110200
Choi, Y., Lee, D. Y., Lee, S., Park, E. J., Yoo, H. J., & Shin, Y. (2021). Association between screen overuse and behavioral and emotional problems in elementary school children. Soa Chongsonyon Chongsin Uihak, 32(4), 154-160. https://doi.org/10.5765/jkacap.210015
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Gunasekaran, A., Karupannagounder, G., Rangaswamy, V., Muraleetharan, G., Panneerselvam, P. (2022). Association between screen time and psychosocial and behavioral well-being of preschoolers during the COVID-19 lockdown in Tamil Nadu. Apollo Medicine, 19(4), 234-240. https://doi.org/10.4103/am.am_101_22
Hu, Z., Bi, S., Wang, W., Liu, C., & Li, L. (2023). Association of screen exposure with psychosocial problems in primary school students. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10, 961137. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.961137
Internet Users Survey 2020. (n.d.). Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. Retrieved December 29, 2020, from https://www.mcmc.gov.my/ms/resources/statistics/internet-users-survey#
Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat. (n.d.). Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat. https://www.jkm.gov.my/jkm/index.php
Joseph Vadakkemulanjanal, G., Thomas, A., Elizabeth, S., Vargheese, S., & Thomas, J. (2022). The impact of screen time and mobile dependency on cognition, socialization, and behavior among early childhood students during the COVID pandemic: Perception of the parents. Digital Education Review, 41, 114-123. https://doi.org/10.1344/der.2022.41.114-123
Kaye, L. K., Orben, A., Ellis, D. A., Hunter, S. C., & Houghton, S. (2020). The conceptual and methodological mayhem of "screen time": A critique on current research and future directions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(10), 3661. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103661
Maurya, C., Muhammad, T., Maurya, P. (2022). The association of smartphone screen time with sleep problems among adolescents and young adults: cross-sectional findings from India. BMC Public Health, 22, 1686. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14076-x
Nobre, J. N., Santos, J. N., Santos, L. R., Guedes, S. da, Pereira, L., Costa, J. M., & Morais, R. L. (2021). Determining factors in children’s screen time in early childhood. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 26(3), 1127–1136. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232021263.00602019
Parent, J., Sanders, W., & Forehand, R. (2016). Youth screen time and behavioral health problems: The role of sleep duration and disturbances. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 37(4), 277-284. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000272
Poulain, T., Ludwig, J., Hiemisch, A., Hilbert, A., & Kiess, W. (2019). Media use of mothers, media use of children, and parent-child interaction are related to behavioral difficulties and strengths of children. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(23), 4651. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16234651
Raj, D., Mohd Zulkefli, N., Mohd Shariff, Z., & Ahmad, N. (2022). Determinants of Excessive Screen Time among Children under Five Years Old in Selangor, Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(6), 3560. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063560
Stiglic, N., & Viner, R. M. (2019). Effects of screen time on the health and well?being of children and adolescents: A systematic review of reviews. BMJ Open, 9(1), e023191. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023191
Wu, C. S., Fowler, C., Lam, W. Y., Wong, H. T., Wong, C. H. M., & Lyu, S. Y. (2014). Parenting approaches and digital technology use of preschool age children in a Chinese community. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 40, 44.
Mayilvahanam, S., Ashaari, S. R. A. H., Ahmad, D., Saat, R., & Rameli, F. E. (2025). Screen Exposure among Pre School Children: Behavioural Impacts. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(3), 745–760.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode