Relationship Between the Use of Screens and the Motor Development of Children from 8 to 10 Years of Age

Background: The considerable increase in screen exposure causes negative effects on the motor development of boys and girls, which results in a decrease in the level of physical activity and an increase in sedentary behaviors. In Chile, this problem has been widely addressed in adolescence; however,...

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Main Authors: Jacqueline Páez-Herrera, Simón Álvarez-González, Sebastián López-Lara, Cristóbal Otero-Tricio, Waldo Rojas-Martínez, Sofía Salgado-Díaz, Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda, Juan Hurtado-Almonacid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Children
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/584
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author Jacqueline Páez-Herrera
Simón Álvarez-González
Sebastián López-Lara
Cristóbal Otero-Tricio
Waldo Rojas-Martínez
Sofía Salgado-Díaz
Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda
Juan Hurtado-Almonacid
author_facet Jacqueline Páez-Herrera
Simón Álvarez-González
Sebastián López-Lara
Cristóbal Otero-Tricio
Waldo Rojas-Martínez
Sofía Salgado-Díaz
Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda
Juan Hurtado-Almonacid
author_sort Jacqueline Páez-Herrera
collection DOAJ
description Background: The considerable increase in screen exposure causes negative effects on the motor development of boys and girls, which results in a decrease in the level of physical activity and an increase in sedentary behaviors. In Chile, this problem has been widely addressed in adolescence; however, it is necessary to address it in childhood and early adolescence with a preventive approach. Objectives: To know the relationship between the use of screens and motor development in children. Methods: The sample was composed of 206 boys and girls (girls = 126 and boys = 80). The ages of the students ranged from 8 to 10 years old with a mean in months of 89.6 ± 7.54. The Gross Motor Development-2 was applied to identify motor development, screen time was measured using the Questionnaire to measure physical activity and sedentary behavior. Results: Girls have a greater weekly time than females in the use of consoles (<i>p</i> = 0.004). Girls and boys who are in the very poor, poor, and low average levels of motor development have more time in front of TV, PC, consoles, and total time with screens. There is an inverse relationship between the level of motor development and weekly screen time (r = −0.252). Conclusions: Screen exposure has a negative effect on the motor development of boys and girls. Although there is compliance with World Health Organization recommendations for screen exposure, the motor development of the participants is mostly very poor, poor, and low average.
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spelling doaj-art-9c78891205054e778b9f4e9e849fc0622025-08-20T02:33:38ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-04-0112558410.3390/children12050584Relationship Between the Use of Screens and the Motor Development of Children from 8 to 10 Years of AgeJacqueline Páez-Herrera0Simón Álvarez-González1Sebastián López-Lara2Cristóbal Otero-Tricio3Waldo Rojas-Martínez4Sofía Salgado-Díaz5Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda6Juan Hurtado-Almonacid7eFidac Research Group, Physical Education School, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340025, ChileeFidac Research Group, Physical Education School, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340025, ChileeFidac Research Group, Physical Education School, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340025, ChileeFidac Research Group, Physical Education School, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340025, ChileeFidac Research Group, Physical Education School, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340025, ChileeFidac Research Group, Physical Education School, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340025, ChileFaculty of Education and Social Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar 2520000, ChileeFidac Research Group, Physical Education School, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340025, ChileBackground: The considerable increase in screen exposure causes negative effects on the motor development of boys and girls, which results in a decrease in the level of physical activity and an increase in sedentary behaviors. In Chile, this problem has been widely addressed in adolescence; however, it is necessary to address it in childhood and early adolescence with a preventive approach. Objectives: To know the relationship between the use of screens and motor development in children. Methods: The sample was composed of 206 boys and girls (girls = 126 and boys = 80). The ages of the students ranged from 8 to 10 years old with a mean in months of 89.6 ± 7.54. The Gross Motor Development-2 was applied to identify motor development, screen time was measured using the Questionnaire to measure physical activity and sedentary behavior. Results: Girls have a greater weekly time than females in the use of consoles (<i>p</i> = 0.004). Girls and boys who are in the very poor, poor, and low average levels of motor development have more time in front of TV, PC, consoles, and total time with screens. There is an inverse relationship between the level of motor development and weekly screen time (r = −0.252). Conclusions: Screen exposure has a negative effect on the motor development of boys and girls. Although there is compliance with World Health Organization recommendations for screen exposure, the motor development of the participants is mostly very poor, poor, and low average.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/584motor skillselectronic devicessedentary behavior
spellingShingle Jacqueline Páez-Herrera
Simón Álvarez-González
Sebastián López-Lara
Cristóbal Otero-Tricio
Waldo Rojas-Martínez
Sofía Salgado-Díaz
Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda
Juan Hurtado-Almonacid
Relationship Between the Use of Screens and the Motor Development of Children from 8 to 10 Years of Age
Children
motor skills
electronic devices
sedentary behavior
title Relationship Between the Use of Screens and the Motor Development of Children from 8 to 10 Years of Age
title_full Relationship Between the Use of Screens and the Motor Development of Children from 8 to 10 Years of Age
title_fullStr Relationship Between the Use of Screens and the Motor Development of Children from 8 to 10 Years of Age
title_full_unstemmed Relationship Between the Use of Screens and the Motor Development of Children from 8 to 10 Years of Age
title_short Relationship Between the Use of Screens and the Motor Development of Children from 8 to 10 Years of Age
title_sort relationship between the use of screens and the motor development of children from 8 to 10 years of age
topic motor skills
electronic devices
sedentary behavior
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/584
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