Abstract
In this study, we conduct an empirical analysis of the impact of the way children spend time at home, especially the use of ICT, on their well-being. The data used for the analysis are those of a total of 470 eighth graders in City A at three time points (2016, 2019, and 2023), obtained through group-administered questionnaire survey. The duration of digital device use increased significantly in 2023. At all three time points, children's well-being was lower when they used ICT for more than 2 hours on weekdays, and when they went to bed later than 11:00 p.m. or irregularly. The results of the simultaneous multi-population path analysis showed that in 2023, the length of time spent using ICT had a direct negative impact on well-being. The key factor in controlling the time spent using ICT and bedtime was the children's own mindset to use them appropriately. The time spent using ICT didn't directly affect the emotional connection with family members, but it did have a positive impact on the children's mindsets. To prevent harmful effects of using ICT, both families and schools need to work together to nurture children's mindsets in a warm relationship.
