Screen consumption, perception and family mediation during confinement due to the Covid-19 pandemic

Introduction. The increased use of screens during the current confinement due to the Covid-19 pandemic has been a cause for concern among professionals.

Objective. To describe the consumption of screens in primary school children in the city of Santa Clara during the confinement due to Covid-19 and the perception and family mediation before such consumption. Methodology. An exploratory online study was conducted using a survey on the GoogleForms platform. The research was carried out from April to June 2021 and the sample consisted of 127 parents of school-age children living in the city of Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba.

Results. 92.1% of schoolchildren consumed between 2 and 4 screens in this period of confinement; with a daily frequency of 92.9% and 61.4% between 3 and 6 hours. 48% of parents considered that the use of screens during confinement increased considerably and 41.7% recognized that it increased a little. 54.3% of parents perceive between one and three effects on the child as a result of consumption. Among the most noted affectations are restlessness and difficulties in falling asleep and following orders. Restrictive mediation followed by shared mediation were the most used by parents to deal with this increase in screen consumption.

Conclusions. Even when parents perceive affectations as a result of the consumption of screens and make restrictions on their children's consumption, the frequency and the number of hours used are high.