TOP 80 - Screen-Time Exposure in Preterm Infants: A Prospective Pilot Study

Publication Number: 1838.TOP 80

Gayathri Sreenivasan, Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, United States; Jordan S. kase, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States; Amy Reichlin, New York Medical College, Brooklyn, NY, United States

Background: Electronic media is increasingly accessible to infants and young children. While it may offer educational benefits, its impact depends on developmental stage and context. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages media exposure before age 2, emphasizing in-person interaction for optimal learning. Infants under 2 years do not yet understand two-dimensional images, reflecting difficulty transferring information from screens to real-life experiences. Excessive exposure and background television are associated with poorer language and sleep outcomes, whereas co-viewing and later initiation support stronger language skills. Preterm infants, already at higher neurodevelopmental risk, represent a unique and underexplored population. Limited research has examined socio-demographic and equity aspects of screen-time exposure in infants, particularly among preterm populations, where socioeconomic and linguistic factors may further influence early media environments. Understanding screen-time patterns and caregiver behavior in this group is essential.

Objective: To characterize screen-time exposure and caregiver media use among preterm infants ( < 37 weeks’ gestation) as an initial step toward understanding sociodemographic influences and equity-related factors within this high-risk population.

Design/Methods: This prospective pilot study evaluated screen-time exposure among preterm infants ( < 37 weeks’ gestation) enrolled in a neonatal follow-up program. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at New York Medical College/Westchester Medical Center. Questionnaires were administered at 1-year corrected age. Families completed a validated 25-item survey assessing infant and caregiver media use, contextual factors, and environmental influences on screen exposure. The instrument captured age of initiation, daily duration, device type, viewing context (solo or co-viewing), purpose of use (entertainment or education), and caregiver perceptions of screen time. Caregiver media habits, including total daily use and background exposure, were also recorded. Equity-related variables—including primary language, insurance type, and race/ethnicity—were collected to examine sociodemographic influences on screen-time exposure and caregiver media behaviors. Data collection was completed, and analyses are underway to describe screen-time patterns, characterize caregiver media behaviors, and evaluate feasibility for longitudinal developmental assessment and future intervention design.