The Goodnight Screen Media Study

Launched by BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · Apr 7, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Goodnight Screen Media Study is looking at how using tablets in the evening affects children's sleep and their ability to focus. Researchers want to find out if using these devices before bedtime changes when kids fall asleep and how long they sleep, especially compared to not using screens at all. They’re also interested in how evening screen time might impact children's thinking and self-control skills.

To participate in this study, children need to be between 4 and 5 years old and live in the Greater Houston area with a parent or legal guardian who cares for them at least half the time. Both the child and the parent must speak English, and while the child doesn’t need to have their own device, they should be using a compatible tablet if they do. Participants will answer questions about their experiences, and the study aims to provide insights that could help improve children’s sleep habits.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • preschool-aged children (4.0 to \<5.0 years old) and their parent
• • living in the Greater Houston area.
• • parent must be a biological parent or legal guardian who lives with the child ≥50% of the time and has a primary role of caring for the child
• • parent is comfortable participating in the study and responding to questionnaires in English.
• • The child does not have to have access to mobile device, but if they do, the primary device they use has to be an Android OS ≥5.0 either used only by the study child or shared with others, or an Apple iOS ≥14.0 that only the child uses.
• • Parent and child must be fluent in English.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • The child has a chronic medical condition or takes a medication affecting sleep, or circadian rhythms (e.g., melatonin supplementation, diagnosed sleep disorder, steroid use, etc.) or a diagnosed cognitive or learning impairment affecting EF (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
• • Child with blindness or significant vision problems that impacts both screen media use and sleep.