Impacts of Screen Time on Motor Ability and Mental Health of Children

Background. Gadgets have become a common phenomenon for children in all countries. Excessive use of gadgets hurts children's development, both physically and mentally. Objectives. This study aims to reveal the pattern of gadget use in children and its impact on their motor skills and mental health. Methods. The participants were 355 children aged 12-15 years in Surabaya, consisting of 47.6% males and 52.4% females. A questionnaire was used to reveal the pattern of screen time and children's mental health by MHQol. Meanwhile, the Barrow Motor Ability test measured children's motor skills. Regression analysis was used to examine the impact of one variable on another, and ANOVA was employed to assess differences between data groups. Results. The study's results proved that students' average screen time duration was 5.9 hours/day. Females' screen time access was higher than that of males. Gadget use was correlated with children's motor abilities, with a beta coefficient of -0.116 and an F value of 4.839 (p < 0.05). The frequency and duration of screen time also significantly affect children's mental health, with beta coefficients of -0.118 and -0.167, respectively, and an F-value of 8.226 (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The higher the duration of gadget use, the lower their motor skills. The higher the frequency and duration of using gadgets, the worse the child's mental health. Males' mental health is better than that of females.