ABSTRACT
Objectives:
In our research; the aim of this study was to question the screen exposure of children of individuals who applied to family health centers (FHC) and to evaluate the attitudes and behaviors of families about the effect of screen exposure on children.
Materials and Methods:
The cross-sectional study was conducted in five FHCs between March and April 2021. The sample size of the study was calculated as a minimum of 334. A data collection form with 34 questions was used in the study. The form was applied by face-to-face interview method. Relationships between data were analyzed by chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Statistically, cases with p<0.05 were considered significant.
Results:
A total of 360 individuals, (71.4% females, n=257) with a median of 2 (1-2) children, participated in the study. Children who do not spend time with their parents in front of the screen, and children who are in the same room while their fathers were watching programs, were found to be significantly more likely to use the swearing/slang they heard on the screen in daily life (p<0.001, p<0.047, respectively).
Conclusion:
As a result of our research, it was seen that some parental attitudes and behaviors contributed to the negative effects of screen exposure on children. In order to prevent this situation, it is necessary to educate the parents before the children and to be more conscious of the negative consequences of the screen.