Correlation between screen time and psychosomatic symptoms in children during COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown

BACKGROUND: This study was planned to estimate the effect of lockdown on psychosomatic problems and sleep of children and their association with screen the time during the lockdown. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1–12-year-old children at a tertiary care hospital in South India. A pre-validated questionnaire with 20 related questions was disseminated through pediatric OPD, telemedicine service, and social media to eligible parents. RESULTS: A total of 278 children aged 1–12 years with a mean (SD) age of 6.92 (3.01) years were studied. Most under 5-year-oldchildren had screen time of ≤2 hours/day, whereas 58.16% of children between 5 and 12 years spent >4 hours/day (P < 0.000). A significant proportion of participants aged 5–12 years had vision problems (P = 0.019), whereas under 5-year-old children had significant associated behavioral changes (P = 0.016) and sleep problems (P = 0.043). CONCLUSION: Behavioral and sleep problems were significantly high and correlated with an increase in screen time among under 5-year-old children. Vision problems were more in 5–12-year-old children.