Authors:
Nimmy Augustine, L. K. Johnson, Senthilkumar Thavasiappan, Nandini Mannadath, Rosmi Chacko

Addresses:
Department of Community Health Nursing, Lourde College of Nursing, Kannur, Kerala, India. Department of Mental Health Nursing, Lourde College of Nursing, Kannur, Kerala, India. Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Lourde College of Nursing, Kannur, Kerala, India. Department of Nursing, College of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Bahrain, Sakhir, Southern Governorate, Bahrain. Department of Nursing, Lourde College of Nursing, Kannur, Kerala, India.

Abstract:

Children and adolescents grow up in a society where modern technology has become a crucial part of their daily lives. As a result, they are exposed to electronic devices from an early age and consequently to screen time (ST) viewing. The excessive use of visual media can hamper the children’s growth and development and can lead to impulsive behaviour, disrupted sleep patterns, and consequently poor mental health. The present study aimed to assess the severity of visual media addiction among children aged 5-10 years in a selected community in Kannur District. A quantitative research survey approach, using a self-administered rating scale, was conducted. The sample consisted of 300 mothers of children aged 5-10 years in a selected community, selected through convenience sampling. The data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, in line with the study's objectives. The results of the study depicted that most (78.67%) of the children had mild addiction, whereas 18.67% of them had moderate addiction. Only 2.66% of the children had severe visual media addiction. There was a significant association between the severity of visual media addiction and demographic variables like religion (<0.022*) and employment status of parents (<0.018*). The study conducted among children aged 5-10 years revealed that many engage in visual media platforms for entertainment, and later it becomes an addiction, which is the greatest threat to the young generation.

Keywords: Visual Media Addiction; Screen Time (ST); Young Generation; Screen Overuse; Digital Dependency; Impulsive Behaviour; Sleep Disturbance; Mental Health; Electronic Devices.

Received on: 31/10/2024, Revised on: 25/12/2024, Accepted on: 08/03/2025, Published on: 11/12/2025

DOI: 10.69888/FTSTL.2025.000564

FMDB Transactions on Sustainable Techno Learning, 2025 Vol. 3 No. 4, Pages: 141-150

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