"If You Let Them, They Will Be on It 24 Hours a Day": Qualitative Study Conducted in the United States Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers' Beliefs, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Screen Time Behaviors of Their Preschool-Age Children

Ana Cristina Lindsay; Carlos André Moura Arruda; Márcia Mt Machado; Mary L Greaney

doi:10.2196/11791

"If You Let Them, They Will Be on It 24 Hours a Day": Qualitative Study Conducted in the United States Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers' Beliefs, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Screen Time Behaviors of Their Preschool-Age Children

JMIR Pediatr Parent. 2019 Jan 21;2(1):e11791. doi: 10.2196/11791.

Authors

Ana Cristina Lindsay^#¹, Carlos André Moura Arruda^#², Márcia Mt Machado^#², Mary L Greaney^#³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States.
² Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil.
³ Department of Kinesiology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 31518308
PMCID: PMC6715394
DOI: 10.2196/11791

Abstract

Background: The increasing prevalence of excessive screen time (ST) among children is a growing public health concern, with evidence linking it to an increased risk of overweight and obesity among children.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the beliefs, attitudes, and practices of Brazilian immigrant mothers living in the United States related to their preschool-age children's ST behaviors.

Methods: A qualitative study comprising 7 focus group discussions (FGDs) was conducted with Brazilian immigrant mothers living in the United States. All FGDs were audio-recorded and professionally transcribed verbatim. The Portuguese transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: In total, 37 women participated in the FGDs. Analyses revealed that although most mothers expressed concerns for their preschool-age children's ST, nearly all viewed ST as an acceptable part of their children's daily lives. Furthermore, mothers perceived that ST has more benefits than disadvantages. The mothers' positive beliefs about (eg, educational purposes and entertainment) and perceived functional benefits of ST (eg, ability to keep children occupied so tasks can be completed and facilitation of communication with family outside the United States) contributed to their acceptance of ST for their preschool-age children. Nevertheless, most mothers spoke of needing to balance their preschool-age children's ST with other activities. Mothers reported using several parenting practices including monitoring time and content, setting limits and having rules, and prompting their children to participate in other activities to manage their preschool-age children's ST.

Conclusions: This study provides new information on the beliefs, attitudes, and practices of Brazilian immigrant mothers living in the United States related to their preschool-age children's ST. Study findings revealed several potentially modifiable maternal beliefs and parenting practices that may provide important targets for parenting- and family-based interventions aimed at limiting preschool-age children's ST.

Keywords: Brazil; child, preschool; immigrants; mothers; screen time.

©Ana Cristina Lindsay, Carlos André Moura Arruda, Márcia MT Machado, Mary L Greaney. Originally published in JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting (http://pediatrics.jmir.org), 21.01.2019.