1. The prevalence of excessive screen time among children under five years old in Selangor, Malaysia is 91.4%, with a median screen time of 3 hours per day.
2. The main determinants of excessive screen time were identified as Malay ethnicity, parental age of ≥30 years, parental screen time >2 hours per day, moderate self-efficacy to influence a child's physical activity, and positive perception on the influence of screen time on a child's cognitive wellbeing.
3. Parents play a crucial role in determining their child's screen time, and future interventions should focus on addressing parental factors to ensure age-appropriate screen time for children.
The article titled "Determinants of Excessive Screen Time among Children under Five Years Old in Selangor, Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study" aims to identify the prevalence and determinants of excessive screen time among children under five years old in Selangor, Malaysia. The study uses validated self-administered questionnaires and multiple logistic regression analysis to analyze the data.
One potential bias in this study is the use of self-reported data from parents. Self-reporting can be subjective and prone to recall bias, as parents may not accurately remember or report their child's screen time. Additionally, there may be social desirability bias, where parents may underreport their child's screen time due to societal expectations or guilt associated with excessive screen use.
The article also lacks a discussion on the potential negative effects of excessive screen time on children's health and development. While it briefly mentions some of these effects in the introduction, such as developmental delay and childhood obesity, it does not explore them further or provide evidence for these claims. This omission weakens the argument for reducing screen time and understanding its determinants.
Furthermore, the article does not discuss potential counterarguments or alternative explanations for excessive screen time among children under five years old. It focuses solely on parental factors such as ethnicity, age, and self-efficacy without considering other possible influences such as media exposure or cultural norms surrounding screen use.
The article also lacks a comprehensive analysis of the cultural and environmental factors that may contribute to excessive screen time among Malaysian children. It briefly mentions that Malaysia is a multicultural nation with different parenting styles but does not delve into how these factors may influence screen time behaviors.
Additionally, the article does not address any potential risks associated with limiting screen time for young children. While it advocates for age-appropriate screen time based on WHO guidelines, it does not acknowledge any potential benefits or positive aspects of technology use for young children.
Overall, this article provides some insights into the prevalence and determinants of excessive screen time among children under five years old in Selangor, Malaysia. However, it has several limitations including potential biases in self-reported data, lack of discussion on negative effects and counterarguments, and limited analysis of cultural and environmental factors. Further research is needed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of screen time behaviors among young children in Malaysia.