12 A Comprehensive Framework for Assessing Screen-Based Media Use in Young Children: Adapting the ScreenQ Measure for Broader Application

Abstract

Screen-based media use is increasingly prevalent among young children, posing various health and developmental risks. Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations on screen access, frequency, content, and co-viewing, a comprehensive and validated composite measure reflecting contemporary media use patterns has been lacking. This study addresses this gap by introducing and psychometrically assessing the ScreenQ, a novel 15-item parent-report measure designed to align with AAP recommendations. We employed Rasch methods and Spearman\'s ρ correlations to evaluate the ScreenQ\'s properties. The measure was administered to 69 parent-child dyads, with children aged 36 to 63 months. Four established external criteria—Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing, Second Edition (CTOPP-2), Expressive Vocabulary Test, Second Edition (EVT-2), Get Ready to Read! (GRTR), and StimQ-P (cognitive stimulation in the home)—were utilized to assess its validity. Our findings indicate that the ScreenQ possesses strong psychometric properties, with its scores negatively correlating with children\'s executive function, language, and literacy skills, as well as the cognitive stimulation level of their home environment. These results underscore the ScreenQ\'s potential as a valuable tool for assessing screen-based media use in young children, offering critical insights into its associations with developmental outcomes and parenting practices. This research contributes to the understanding of media\'s impact on early childhood development and provides a foundation for future interventions and policy-making.