Assessment of Association of Parental Factors with Screen Time in Preschool Children Aged Between 2-5 Years in and Around Kannauj- A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The increasing screen exposure among preschool-aged children has become a growing concern due to its potential impact on cognitive, behavioural, and emotional development. Parental factors, including education, occupation, awareness of screen time guidelines, and supervision, play a pivotal role in influencing children's screen habits. The objective is to determine the screen time patterns of preschool children aged 2–5 years and explore their association with different parental sociodemographic factors in and around Kannauj. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 parents of preschool-aged children using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, screen time duration, supervision practices, and parental awareness. The Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Scale and BG Prasad 2024 classification were applied. Associations were analysed using chi-square tests, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 150 children, 57.3% had screen exposure exceeding 1 hour a day. Parental education and occupation were significantly associated with children's screen time (p<0.05). Parents with higher educational status and professional occupations were more inclined to limit their child's screen usage. Lack of parental awareness about screen time guidelines (69.3%) and absence of supervision (26.7%) were also strongly associated with increased screen exposure (p<0.001). Additionally, parental screen time exceeding 2 hours per day showed direct correlations with higher screen use in children. Conclusion: Parental factors such as education level, occupation, screen habits, and awareness significantly influence screen time among preschoolers. Strengthening parental guidance and promoting screen time awareness through community-level interventions are crucial for the healthy development of young children.