Mobile device use when caring for children 0-5 years: A naturalistic playground study

Issue addressed: Over the past decade, mobile device use has increased significantly. Adults are now using their mobile device whilst undertaking a range of work and social activities. This naturalistic study aimed to understand parents/carers' use of mobile devices and their associated beliefs...

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Main Authors: Mangan, E., Leavy, J., Jancey, Jonine
Format: Journal Article
Published: Australian Health Promotion Association 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/68134
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author Mangan, E.
Leavy, J.
Jancey, Jonine
author_facet Mangan, E.
Leavy, J.
Jancey, Jonine
author_sort Mangan, E.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Issue addressed: Over the past decade, mobile device use has increased significantly. Adults are now using their mobile device whilst undertaking a range of work and social activities. This naturalistic study aimed to understand parents/carers' use of mobile devices and their associated beliefs about mobile device use whilst caring for children aged five and younger in playgrounds. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from parents/carers. Data were collected by observations (n = 50) and interviews (n = 25) in playgrounds on the North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Results: Of the 50 observed parents/carers, 76% (n = 38) used their mobile device, with usage time extending to 17.2 minutes of the 20 minute observation period. Text-/type-related mobile device use was most often used (69.6%), followed by voice-related (23.7%) and camera-related mobile device use (6.7%). The 25 interviewed parents/carers beliefs on mobile device use were centred on three themes: diversity of mobile device use, child relationships and mobile device use and the physical environment and mobile device use. Conclusion: This study adds to the limited research into parent/carer mobile device use, which has become an integral part of peoples' lifestyle. However, research is required to better understand how parent/carer mobile device use may impact on child supervision and interaction. So what?: Mobile device use is increasing. We need to better understand its public health impact.
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format Journal Article
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T10:36:40Z
publishDate 2018
publisher Australian Health Promotion Association
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-681342018-08-28T06:54:04Z Mobile device use when caring for children 0-5 years: A naturalistic playground study Mangan, E. Leavy, J. Jancey, Jonine Issue addressed: Over the past decade, mobile device use has increased significantly. Adults are now using their mobile device whilst undertaking a range of work and social activities. This naturalistic study aimed to understand parents/carers' use of mobile devices and their associated beliefs about mobile device use whilst caring for children aged five and younger in playgrounds. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from parents/carers. Data were collected by observations (n = 50) and interviews (n = 25) in playgrounds on the North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Results: Of the 50 observed parents/carers, 76% (n = 38) used their mobile device, with usage time extending to 17.2 minutes of the 20 minute observation period. Text-/type-related mobile device use was most often used (69.6%), followed by voice-related (23.7%) and camera-related mobile device use (6.7%). The 25 interviewed parents/carers beliefs on mobile device use were centred on three themes: diversity of mobile device use, child relationships and mobile device use and the physical environment and mobile device use. Conclusion: This study adds to the limited research into parent/carer mobile device use, which has become an integral part of peoples' lifestyle. However, research is required to better understand how parent/carer mobile device use may impact on child supervision and interaction. So what?: Mobile device use is increasing. We need to better understand its public health impact. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/68134 10.1002/hpja.38 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Australian Health Promotion Association fulltext
spellingShingle Mangan, E.
Leavy, J.
Jancey, Jonine
Mobile device use when caring for children 0-5 years: A naturalistic playground study
title Mobile device use when caring for children 0-5 years: A naturalistic playground study
title_full Mobile device use when caring for children 0-5 years: A naturalistic playground study
title_fullStr Mobile device use when caring for children 0-5 years: A naturalistic playground study
title_full_unstemmed Mobile device use when caring for children 0-5 years: A naturalistic playground study
title_short Mobile device use when caring for children 0-5 years: A naturalistic playground study
title_sort mobile device use when caring for children 0-5 years: a naturalistic playground study
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/68134