Use of screens in children aged less than 6 years in Guipúzcoa. Social characteristics and impact on health

Pedro J. Gorrotxategi Gorrotxategi^a, Maider Delgado Pérez^b, Nerea Etxeberría Hernando^c, Enara Legarda-Ereño Rivera^d, Maider Mateo Abad^e, Grupo de Investigación de Atención Primaria de Gipuzkoa

^aPediatra. CS Pasaia San Pedro. Pasajes. Guipúzcoa. España.
^bPediatra. CS Dumboa. Irún. Guipúzcoa. España.
^cPediatra. CS Urnieta. Urnieta. Guipúzcoa. España.
^dMIR-Pediatría. Hospital Universitario Donostia. San Sebastián. Guipúzcoa. España.
^eEpidemióloga clínica. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Biogipuzkoa. San Sebastián. Guipúzcoa. España.

Correspondence: PJ Gorrotxategi. E-mail: pedro.gorrotxa@gmail.com

Reference of this article: Gorrotxategi Gorrotxategi PJ, Delgado Pérez M, Etxeberría Hernando N, Legarda-Ereño Rivera E, Mateo Abad M, Grupo de Investigación de Atención Primaria de Gipuzkoa. Use of screens in children aged less than 6 years in Guipúzcoa. Social characteristics and impact on health . Rev Pediatr Aten Primaria. 2025;27:145-53. https://doi.org/10.60147/f589a241

Published in Internet: 24-06-2025 - Visits: 600

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the use of screens between ages 6 months and 6 years in order to assess its timing and duration, characteristics, association with family and socioeconomic characteristics and impact on health.

Methodology: cross-sectional study based on data collected through a questionnaire administered to parents of children aged 6 months to 6 years during routine child health program visits. We used linear regression models to study the factors associated with screen time.

Results: we collected 281 questionnaires (8 excluded due to incomplete data). The child was aged more than 2 years in 114 cases and less in 159. By sex, 145 were male and 128 female. Screens were used by 59% of children under 2 years and 100% of older children. Screen time was 30 minutes/day in children under 2 years and 1.5 hours/day in older children. Twenty-five percent used screens at mealtimes and 10% before going to sleep. We found language delay in 7% of the overall sample, which rose to 9% in the group aged more than 2 years. Greater use was associated with sleep disturbances and decreased physical activity. We found lower screen use in families with a better socioeconomic index or with higher educational attainment.

Conclusions: in children under 6 years, screen use was greater than recommended. Greater use was associated with language delay, sleep disorders and a more sedentary lifestyle. We found an association between the use of screens and family and socioeconomic characteristics.

Keywords

● Child development ● Information technologies ● Language development disorders ● Screen time

Note:

Grupo de Investigación de Atención Primaria de Gipuzkoa: Pedro Gorrotxategi Gorrotxategi, Maider Delgado Pérez, Nerea Etxeberría Hernando, Amaia Sagastibelza Zabaleta, Consuelo Aberasturi, Leire Jiménez Cabrera, Teresa Pérez-Rubio Villalobos, María Zuñeda Bustamante, Leire Tellería Otegi, Susana Pajuelo Lluch, Pilar Gómez Cabanillas, Elena Busselo Ortega, Amaia Aristizábal Segarra, Marina Gallo Agesta, Inmaculada Merino Marcos, Garazi Ormazabal Gaztañaga, Elene Larrea Tamayo, Aiora Arrizabalaga Vanremoortere, Arantxa Garmendia Iglesias, Ana M.ª Martínez Tellería, Ainhoa Muguruza Oyarzabal, Izaskun Miner Canflanca, Enara Legarda-Ereño Rivera, Paula Mercado Ozcariz, M.ª Itxaso Martí Carrera, Maider Mateo Abad.