PARENTS’ PERCEPTION OF INFANTS’ USE OF MOBILE DEVICES: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION

Abstract

Despite the clear restrictive guidelines about the use of modern handheld devices among children younger than 2 years, parents are seen to extensively use these devices with their infants. However, parents’ perceptions in this regard remain unclear and underexplored especially in the context of Pakistan, thus needing further exploration. This qualitative study aims to explore parents’ perception regarding their infants’ use of mobile devices and how this perception situates the use of mobile devices in child rearing practices. By the use of purposive sampling technique, 10 couples (i.e. 20 parents) from Pakistan were individually interviewed using a semi structured interview guide. Parents with at least two children including one infant (0-2 years) were included. Single parents and parents of children with special needs were excluded. Findings revealed negative outcomes of use of mobile devices among infants, which were categorized into internalizing problems, emotional problems, social interaction problems and issues in cognitive processing. Whereas positive outcomes included learning outcomes and increased cognitive abilities. While having sufficient knowledge about the potential negative outcomes associated with the excessive use of these devices, parents appeared to be challenged in limiting the screen time. Parents are seen to use mobile devices with their infants either as a time management technique or as a parenting practice in daily routine. This study can be made useful among clinicians to consider this aspect while making a neurodevelopmental diagnosis. It can also be useful in promoting learning among infants in day care/childcare centers, in developing parenting manuals and developing screen time policy or guidelines.