Publication Date
5-2024
Advisor(s) - Committee Chair
Sarah Bonis, Kendall May, Carl Myers
Degree Program
Department of Psychology
Degree Type
Specialist Project
Abstract
Youth exposure to excessive amounts of screen time and its associations with health outcomes in children and adolescents has become a popular research topic in recent decades. Researchers are now differentiating screen activities into categories such as passive and active screen use to better understand the effects that each type of usage may have on individuals. However, literature has yet to examine the influence of adult screen time and screen usage and its impact on youth populations. The goal of this study was to investigate these issues by determining how much adults know about their daily usage of screen-based activities, their beliefs about their usage, and whether the amount and type of usage has an impact on their wellbeing. Data were collected using an online subject pool, with participants completing a battery of assessments to measure amount of screen time and type of screen use, perception of screen use, and personal well-being. Results found that most participants (parents) exceeded the national average of screen time per day with total passive screen time exceeding total active screen time. Total passive and total active screen time were significantly related to total use, yet total wellbeing of participants was only significantly related to their total passive screen time. In contrast, more parents believed that active screen time, rather than passive screen time, leads to worse mental health outcomes. Educational professionals should inform parents of the association between excessive use of screens and well-being, and how their own use of screens may impact their children’s use of screens. Limitations include generational differences, measures used, and participants sampled.
Disciplines
Psychology | School Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Hendrickson, Evyn, "ADULTS’ CONTRIBUTION TO SCREEN USE IN YOUTH: DIFFERENTIATING SCREENBASED ACTIVITIES" (2024). Masters Theses & Specialist Projects. Paper 3732.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/3732