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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Problematic Media Use: Perceptions of Caregivers of High-Risk Youth
This study looked at: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs):
Problematic Media Use:
Difficult events, such as sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, that can have negative and long-term effects on an individual's well-being.
Using devices in such a way that it interferes with important daily living activities.
Problematic Media Use behaviors are more predictive of psychosocial difficulties than amount of screen time.
In this study:
AGES
QUESTIONNAIRES WERE COMPLETED BY
348
ON BEHALF OF
CHILDREN
5-18
PARENTS AND LEGAL GUARDIANS
49% HAD SUFFERED 4 + ACES OF CHILDREN
Results: Children with ANY TYPE OF ACE display higher PROBLEMATIC MEDIA USE compared to children without any ACES.
MORE ACES TOTAL ACES predicted PROBLEMATIC MEDIA USE above and beyond any variance explained by child demographic factors & WEEKLY SCREEN TIME.
&
MORE TIME IN FOSTER/ INSTITUTIONAL CARE
were associated with
INCREASED
PROBLEMATIC
MEDIA USE Potential Explanation: Disrupted child self-regulation, which has already been associated with potential explanation: increased ACES.
Recommendations: Teach vulnerable youth about media use management. Ask about media use when providing care to foster / adopted youth. Give parents of foster / adopted youth guidance and resources about media use. Learn more about recommendations for healthy media use in Vulnerable Children in a Digital Age. Based on research by Sarah E. Domoff, Aubrey L. Borgen, Nicole Wilke, and Amanda Hiles Howard