EFFECTS OF MEDIA USE ON BEHAVIORAL INHIBITION IN PRESCHOOLERS

Abstract

Previous research suggests that there is a link between children’s media use and their executive function. The present study aimed to assess preschool-aged children’s media use and to determine if different levels of media use impacted their inhibitory control. Children aged 4-5 years completed an iPad-based Go/No-Go task and a caregiver completed online demographic and media use surveys. Following data collection, media use data was dichotomized based on duration, using the American Academy of Pediatrics’ suggested guidelines. Content was determined using the average rating of educational value for the child’s reported favorite shows. Results of the Go/No-Go task were coded to produce an inhibitory control score that is the percent of correctly withheld no-go responses. A two-way between-subjects ANCOVA was conducted in addition to several Pearson correlation analyses. Findings of the present study suggest that duration and content recommendations set forth by the AAP do not have significant effects on inhibitory control in preschool-aged children. A significant correlation was established between reaction time and inhibitory control, such that children who have better inhibitory control respond to correct stimuli slower than those with poor inhibitory control. Overall, those who did not follow the AAP media use recommendations did not demonstrate short-term effects on inhibitory control in the present study.