%0 Journal Article
%@ 2561-6722
%I JMIR Publications
%V 4
%N 2
%P e29411
%T “It's Been Negative for Us Just All the Way Across the Board”: Focus Group Study Exploring Parent Perceptions of Child Screen Time During the COVID-19 Pandemic
%A Hammons,Amber J
%A Villegas,Elizabeth
%A Robart,Ryan
%+ Department of Child and Family Science, California State University, Fresno, 5241 North Maple Avenue, Fresno, CA, 93740, United States, 1 559 278 1158, ahammons@csufresno.edu
%K children
%K COVID-19
%K experiences
%K family
%K outcomes
%K pandemic
%K parenting
%K parents
%K screen time
%D 2021
%7 8.6.2021
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Pediatr Parent
%G English
%X Background: Child screen time (ST) has soared during the COVID-19 pandemic as lockdowns and restrictions have forced changes to regular family routines. It is important to investigate how families are navigating ST. Objective: This study aimed to explore families’ experiences of ST during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Virtual focus group sessions were conducted between December 2020 and February 2021 in English and Spanish. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: In total, 48 parents (predominantly Hispanic) residing in California participated in 1 of 14 focus group sessions. Children were attending school remotely at the time of the study. A total of 6 themes and 1 subtheme were identified: (1) total ST has increased; (2) children are too attached to screens; (3) ST has advantages and disadvantages but parents perceive ST as mostly negative; (4) parents and children have limited options; (5) ST restrictions (subtheme: children react negatively when ST is restricted); and (6) parents are concerned that children are not getting enough exercise. Conclusions: This study provides a cross-sectional insight into how family life has changed with regard to ST during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents expressed concerns about total ST, the addictive nature of it, and lack of physical activity. It is important that future studies examine the long-term effects of heavy ST and preemptively introduce ways to redirect children’s ST habits as the country attempts to establish a new normal. 
%M 34081606
%R 10.2196/29411
%U https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2021/2/e29411
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/29411
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34081606