Association of Media Consumption on YouTube and Sleep Problems among Preschoolers: A Qualitative Study Based on Mothers’ Perspectives

Abstract

The increasing exposure of preschoolers to digital media (especially cartoons and AI generated content on YouTube)   is causing concern worldwide, as this has an impact on both sleep quality and a child's early development. By going back 10,000 years in our biological memories, it is possible to appreciate the quintessential role of darkness in child sleep. Mothers are children's primary caregivers and so should have a clear understanding of their media consumption and their sleep patterns. This qualitative study was conducted to analyze how YouTube effect on two- to six-years old children and in particular the point problem from the viewpoint of mothers whose child has spent time living. Through Qualitative survey (open ended questions) of 294 mothers of 2 to 6 years preschooler aged children. This work attempts to describe in detail various sleeping problems among two-to six-year-old children due to spending excessive time on YouTube. Data was analyzed using the six phase thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke and the results showed five main themes: excessive media consumption on YouTube in everyday routines, delay to falling asleep and bedtime resistance, awakening at night and restless sleep, emotional and behavioral dysregulation, maternal awareness and challenges in regulation of excessive media consumption on YouTube. Taken as a whole, these findings suggest a strong bonding between excessive media consumption habits and sleep problems among preschoolers. Parents need to be educated about their effect on children's bedtime habits and given guidelines from authorities in order that it may not become widespread; intervention programs can also help children establish new healthy patterns.