The present study aims to investigate how children spent their free time during the lockdown, analyzing the relationship between the time spent on activities involving the use of Digital Devices (DD) and those that do not, taking into account individual factors (gender and age of the child) and contextual factors (parent’s educational qualification); it also investigates the relationship between the increase in psychological difficulties during the lockdown and the way children spent their free time. 3602 parents of Italian girls and boys (52% male) aged between 3 and 10 years responded to the questionnaire (M=6.46; SD=2.23). From the data analysis, it emerged that during the lockdown period, there was a significant increase in screen time compared to other leisure activities (t (3601) =18.427; p<.001; Cohen’s D= 3.68), consistently with findings from other studies conducted during the same period (Orgilés et al., 2020). Gender effects (β=-0.08; p<.001) and age effects (β=0.46; p<.001) were identified regarding screen time, indicating higher usage among males compared to females and among older children compared to younger ones. Regression results indicate a significant effect of screen time on psychological difficulties (β=0.10; p<.001) and an effect of other leisure activities that appear to act as protective factors against such difficulties (β=-0.13; p<.001). Lastly, an important role seems to be played by the parent’s level of education, which appears to act as a protective factor against screen time. These results confirm existing literature regarding the increase in screen time during the lockdown and highlight the role of contextual and individual factors that can act as protective or risk factors.

Children’s recreational activities during lockdown, use of digital devices and psychological difficulties. Individual and contextual factors / Mascaro, Chiara; Cannoni, Eleonora; Szpunar, Giordana; Grigore, Madalina; DI NORCIA, Anna. - In: PSYCHOLOGY HUB. - ISSN 2724-2943. - XLI:3(2024), pp. 15-22. [10.13133/2724-2943/18334]

Children’s recreational activities during lockdown, use of digital devices and psychological difficulties. Individual and contextual factors

Chiara Mascaro
;
Eleonora Cannoni;Giordana Szpunar;Madalina Grigore;Anna Di Norcia
2024

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate how children spent their free time during the lockdown, analyzing the relationship between the time spent on activities involving the use of Digital Devices (DD) and those that do not, taking into account individual factors (gender and age of the child) and contextual factors (parent’s educational qualification); it also investigates the relationship between the increase in psychological difficulties during the lockdown and the way children spent their free time. 3602 parents of Italian girls and boys (52% male) aged between 3 and 10 years responded to the questionnaire (M=6.46; SD=2.23). From the data analysis, it emerged that during the lockdown period, there was a significant increase in screen time compared to other leisure activities (t (3601) =18.427; p<.001; Cohen’s D= 3.68), consistently with findings from other studies conducted during the same period (Orgilés et al., 2020). Gender effects (β=-0.08; p<.001) and age effects (β=0.46; p<.001) were identified regarding screen time, indicating higher usage among males compared to females and among older children compared to younger ones. Regression results indicate a significant effect of screen time on psychological difficulties (β=0.10; p<.001) and an effect of other leisure activities that appear to act as protective factors against such difficulties (β=-0.13; p<.001). Lastly, an important role seems to be played by the parent’s level of education, which appears to act as a protective factor against screen time. These results confirm existing literature regarding the increase in screen time during the lockdown and highlight the role of contextual and individual factors that can act as protective or risk factors.
2024
children; digital devices; free time; psychological difficulties; COVID-19
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Children’s recreational activities during lockdown, use of digital devices and psychological difficulties. Individual and contextual factors / Mascaro, Chiara; Cannoni, Eleonora; Szpunar, Giordana; Grigore, Madalina; DI NORCIA, Anna. - In: PSYCHOLOGY HUB. - ISSN 2724-2943. - XLI:3(2024), pp. 15-22. [10.13133/2724-2943/18334]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1729857
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