Relationship between Screen Time, Apgar Score, and Communication Skills in Children

Bojana Vuković, Slađana Ćalasan, Sanja Živanović, Andrijana Bakoč, Bojana Kern, Ivana Zečević

Abstract


Excessive screen time (ST) has been linked to delays in early communication, while the Apgar score (AS) is a widely used biological indicator of a newborn’s condition immediately after birth. This study examined the relationships of child ST, age of first ST exposure, and parental ST with early communication skills, as well as whether AS is related to or modifies these associations. The sample included 2,166 children aged 12–66 months. Communication skills were assessed using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3), whereas data on ST and AS were collected using a specially designed questionnaire. Exceeding recommended screen time, earlier screen exposure (<12 months), and higher parental screen time (>3 h/day) were associated with lower communication scores. However, the observed associations were statistically significant with small effect sizes. Early exposure and excessive ST were negatively associated with communication, whereas AS showed a positive association but did not modify the relationships between ST variables and communication. These findings underscore the critical relevance of ST-related behaviors in understanding early communication development in children.

Keywords


screen time; Apgar score; communication development

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.51558/2490-3647.2026.11.1.827

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