Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-rkxrd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-19T04:41:30.119Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Association Between Time Spent on Computer Tablets and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Among Children from 3 to 12 Years Old

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

A. Alhadi
Affiliation:
King Saud University, Department of Psychiatry, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia King Saud University, SABIC Psychological Health Research and Applications Chair SPHRAC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
O.A. Abid
Affiliation:
King Saud University, Department of Psychiatry, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
K.A. Alsuhaibani
Affiliation:
King Saud University, Department of Psychiatry, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
K.A. Alshehri
Affiliation:
King Saud University, Department of Psychiatry, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
R.A. Alowaisheq
Affiliation:
King Saud University, Department of Psychiatry, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
N.B. Al Backer
Affiliation:
King Saud University, Department of Paediatrics, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction

ADHD is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders in children. The worldwide prevalence is estimated to be between 2–18%. The exact cause of ADHD is still unknown, but some factors have been found to increase the risk of having ADHD like increase TV exposure time and video games.

Objectives

To study the association between time spent on computer tablets (iPads or Android tablets) by children and ADHD.

Methods

This cross sectional study targeted children from 3 to 12 years old who use computer tablets. Two non-random sampling techniques were used to distribute self-administered questionnaires to one of the caregivers of 275 children, 36 of them installed an application in their children's computer tablets that measures the actual time spent by the children. The questionnaire contains demographics, validated Arabic ADHD rating scale and questions to assess the parental attitude. The SPSS package was used for statistical analysis.

Results

The results showed that the overall prevalence of ADHD is 22.2% and it is higher in males. There is no statistically significant association between ADHD and all variables except for the time spent on computer tablets, which showed that children using computer tablets more than the average time have an increased chance of having ADHD with an odds ratio of 1.9 with 95% confidence interval from 1.08 to 3.40.

Conclusion

This study shows an association between time spent on computer tablets by children and ADHD. There is need for longitudinal studies to demonstrate the temporality and to confirm the association.

Type
e-Poster walk: E-mental health
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2017

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.