Tablet use linked to anger problems in young children, according to study

New research suggests that giving young children tablets could lead to anger problems in later years, adding to the growing body of evidence that suggests mobile devices could negatively affect children's development. The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, found that tablet use at age 3.5 was significantly associated with a tendency toward anger and frustration a year later. The research was conducted by a team of international researchers who evaluated parental reports and behavioral surveys to assess expressions of anger and frustration in the same group of children at ages 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 years

The study also found that tablet use at age 4.5 was linked to increased outbursts of anger and frustration at age 5.5. The data revealed that children who were more angry and frustrated at age 4.5 were also likely to use tablets more at age 5.5, suggesting that tablets may be involved in a negative cycle of emotional dysregulation. Researchers believe that tablet use not only undermines the ability to effectively manage emotions during daily routines, but also makes children more reliant on digital strategies to temper outbursts.

Researchers are still unclear why using tablets or other mobile devices seems to interfere with children's emotional development. They suggest that tablet use could interfere with two key pathways through which children learn emotion regulation: observing parents' emotion regulation strategies and receiving emotional coaching from parents about how to manage emotions.

The study only looked at whether children used tablets, and researchers have called for future research to examine the nature of these interactions. They suggest that it is important to understand how the tablet is used, whether it is active use such as reading or passive use such as watching a video, and the degree of parental interaction while using the tablet.

While the research adds to growing concerns about the impact of mobile devices on children's development, the researchers also suggest that when used appropriately and in conjunction with parents, tablets could be used to help children to practice recognizing and responding to emotions, thereby improving behavior rather than causing more outbursts.