EARLY SCREEN EXPOSURE AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: A LITERATURE REVIEW OF MECHANISMS, ASSOCIATED FACTORS, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

This study aimed to synthesize the most recent scientific evidence on the association between early screen exposure and the emotional development of young children, highlighting the main underlying mechanisms and the factors that may influence this relationship. This literature review was conducted through searches in the PubMed and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases using the descriptors "Screen Time," "Early Childhood," and "Emotional Development," combined with the Boolean operator AND. Observational studies and systematic reviews published within the last five years and available in full text were included, while duplicate studies and those not directly related to the topic were excluded. After applying the eligibility criteria, 20 studies were included in the review. The evidence demonstrated an association between screen exposure and changes in several domains of child development, including language, executive functions, socio-emotional skills, emotional self-regulation, behavior, and mental health. In addition, factors such as sleep quality, parental mediation, the type of digital content accessed, and the family environment were found to significantly influence the observed outcomes. It is concluded that early screen exposure affects children's emotional development through the interaction of neurobiological mechanisms, behavioral factors, and the family environment, highlighting the importance of the conscious use of digital technologies and stronger interactions between children and their caregivers as preventive strategies.