"I'm on it 24/7 at the moment" : A qualitative examination of multi-screen viewing behaviours among UK 10-11 year olds

Background: Screen-viewing has been associated with increased body mass, increased risk of metabolic syndrome and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents. There is a shortage of information about the nature of contemporary screen-viewing amongst children especially given the rapid advances in screen-viewing equipment technology and their widespread availability. Anecdotal evidence suggests that large numbers of children embrace the multi-functionality of current devices to engage in multiple forms of screen-viewing at the same time. In this paper we used qualitative methods to assess the nature and extent of multiple forms of screen-viewing in UK children. Methods: Focus groups were conducted with 10-11 year old children (n = 63) who were recruited from five primary schools in Bristol, UK. Topics included the types of screen-viewing in which the participants engaged; whether the participants ever engaged in more than one form of screen-viewing at any time and if so the nature of this multiple viewing; reasons for engaging in multi-screen-viewing; the room within the house where multi-screen-viewing took place and the reasons for selecting that room. All focus groups were transcribed verbatim, anonymised and thematically analysed. Results: Multi-screen viewing was a common behaviour. Although multi-screen viewing often involved watching TV, TV viewing was often the background behaviour with attention focussed towards a laptop, handheld device or smart-phone. There were three main reasons for engaging in multi-screen viewing: 1) tempering impatience that was associated with a programme loading; 2) multi-screen facilitated filtering out unwanted content such as advertisements; and 3) multi-screen viewing was perceived to be enjoyable. Multi-screen viewing occurred either in the child's bedroom or in the main living area of the home. There was considerable variability in the level and timing of viewing and this appeared to be a function of whether the participants attended after-school clubs. Conclusions: UK children regularly engage in two or more forms of screen-viewing at the same time. There are currently no means of assessing multi-screen viewing nor any interventions that specifically focus on reducing multi-screen viewing. To reduce children's overall screen-viewing we need to understand and then develop approaches to reduce multi-screen viewing among children.

Ezagutzaren dinamika Ikas Komunitateetan

[EUS] Laurogeita hamarreko hamarkadan, Eusko Jaurlaritzako Berriztapen Pedagogikoaren Zuzendaritzak eta Bartzelonako Unibertsitateko CREA (Gizarte eta Heziketarako Ikerkuntza Zentroa) ikerkuntza-taldeak Ikas Komunitateen proiektua jarri zuten martxan, elkarlanean, Euskal Autonomia Erkidegoko lau zentrotan. Zentro horiek hezkuntza-proiektu berri bat abiatzeko bidea ematen dute; izan ere, porrot akademiko handia izatearren hautatu dira, ikasle-taldeen aniztasunaren egoerari heltzeko arazo ugari dituztelako edota dauden lekuetan gizarte-bazterkeriarekin loturiko arazo anitz daudelako. Aldi berean, proiektuak eraldaketa proposatzen du, bai eskolarena, baita inguruarena ere, eta, horretarako, eskolako partaide guztiak hartzen ditu kontuan. Emaitza onak ikusi ostean, eta, hezkuntza-berriztapenaren alorrean lehentasuna izanik, ekimena zabaltzen hasi zen hastapeneko zentroez bestelako ezaugarri sozioedukatiboak dituzten eskoletara ere. Esperientzia berritzaile horiek aurrera eramateko gogo handiz agertu ziren, baita ere, «praktika on»en paradigma ez zirenak, eta, emaitzei begiratzen badiegu, dirudienez, etekin onak lortzen ari dira zentroetan. Ikas Komunitateen proiektuak berekin daraman gaitasun eraldatzaileak egokitzeko berezko ahala erakusten du. Egokitzapen horretan, eskolaren —inguruarekin batera— eta proiektuaren arteko sinbiosia lortzen da, hezkuntzako arrakasta- ekintzak sustatuz.