Screen Time and Socioemotional and Behavioral Difficulties Among Indigenous Children in Canada

by Sawayra Owais

Screens are a near-ubiquitous part of our daily lives, especially for young children. The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that children aged 2-5 years limit their screen time to 1 hour per day. However, 75% of children currently exceed these guidelines.

Children’s brains are rapidly developing during these early years and screen exposure may negatively influence development. Researchers have found that children with excessive screen time are more likely to struggle in school, be hyperactive, or have difficulty making friends.

One group that may be at increased risk of screen time are Indigenous children. Globally, Indigenous peoples have a shared history of being subjected to oppressive and colonial policies that disrupted their traditional way of life. In Canada, policies like the Indian Residential Schools and Sixties Scoop resulted in the breakdown of family units and prevented children from learning about their culture, language, and parenting practices. Today, Indigenous peoples in Canada, especially children, face significant socioeconomic disadvantage that can increase their risk for increased screen exposure. However, the levels of screen time and their potential links with socioemotional and behavioural issues in this population are not known.

To answer this question, we used data from the Aboriginal Children’s Survey. This survey was conducted between 2006-2007 however it remains the most recent survey on young Indigenous children (<6 years old) living off-reserve in Canada. Caregivers of 2-5-year-old First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children reported the number of hours their child spent watching TV/DVDs, playing video games, or playing on the computer per day. Caregivers also completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire which is a measure of socioemotional and behavioral well-being.

We included 6,505 Indigenous children in our study: 3085 First Nations, 2430 Métis, and 990 Inuit. Our study found that screen exposure was high among all Indigenous children: 2 hours 58 minutes in First Nations children, 2 hours 50 minutes among Métis children, and 3 hours and 25 minutes among Inuit children. Approximately 4 out of 5 Indigenous children exceeded the screen time recommendations. We also found that screen time was linked with socioemotional and behavioral issues among First Nations and Métis children. Specifically, First Nations and Métis kids with higher screen time were more likely to have emotional difficulties, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems, and lower prosocial behavior.

We hope these findings raise awareness among healthcare providers and educators on the potential increased exposure to screens among Indigenous children. Researchers can also use this study to establish a baseline and analyze trends in screen time when more contemporary surveys become available. Ultimately, we hope this study can help organizations to advocate for a reduction in screen time and support initiatives to optimize the well-being of Indigenous children.

Article Details
Screen Time and Socioemotional and Behavioural Difficulties Among Indigenous Children in Canada
Sawayra Owais, Maria B. Ospina, Camron Ford, Troy Hill, Calan D. Savoy, Ryan Van Lieshout
First Published December 27, 2023 Research Article
DOI: 10.1177/07067437231223333
The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry

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