Attitudes of Psychiatrists towards Smartphone Usage of Children and Adolescents / 신경정신의학

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we performed a preliminary investigation for establishing guidelines for the usage of smartphones in children and adolescents. METHODS: From March 2014 to August 2014, 182 board-certified psychiatrists were asked to participate in the survey ; 121 participants completed the questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed by the authors, mainly the Public Relations Committee of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. It evaluates psychiatrists' opinions on the use of smartphones in children and adolescents. In addition, psychiatrists' attitudes towards their own usage of smartphones were assessed in order to determine the impact on their opinion towards the children's usage. RESULTS: Psychiatrists have recommended various opinions as the appropriate age to own a smartphone for the first time. Mean age recommended by psychiatrists is grade 7.7. One-hundred participants (82.6%) agreed to the age limit to own a smartphone for the first time. In addition all participants agreed to the necessity of a time limit in children and adolescents. Psychiatrists (17.4%) who disagree on the age limit in children considered the smartphone more useful by themselves compared to psychiatrists who agreed on the age limit. CONCLUSION: Most psychiatrists have recommended that an appropriate limit for smartphone usage in children and adolescents is needed.