2020 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 125-136
Despite public concern regarding mobile device use and children's self-regulation, there is little evidence on this topic in the literature. This study investigated whether smartphone and tablet use was associated with effortful control (EC) in early childhood. In Study 1 (N=183; individuals with a firstborn aged 2–6 years), the Smartphone and Tablet Use Purpose Scale, the Smartphone and Tablet Use Situation Scale, and the Smartphone and Tablet Use Rule Scale were developed and validated. In Study 2 (N=455; married couples with a firstborn aged 2–6 years), the common fate model showed that smartphone and tablet use rule, but not smartphone and tablet use frequency, smartphone and tablet use purpose, and smartphone and tablet use situation, was associated with higher EC, even after controlling for demographic variables. This was true for subgroup analysis based on the child's age.