유아기 미디어 사용이 주의집중 문제를 매개로 아동 중기 그릿에 미치는 종단적 영향

Longitudinal effects of media use in early childhood on grit in middle childhood: Mediating role of attention problems

Objective: The present study examined long-term effects of media use during early childhood on grit in middle childhood, focusing on the mediating role of attention problems. Methods: For statistical analysis, the 6th, 7th, and 11th data sets from the Panel Study on Korean Children were used. A total of 1,352 cases were finally selected. Descriptive statistics analysis, correlation analysis, path analysis, and bootstrapping were conducted. Results: The results showed that the use of media for educational purposes in early childhood did not have a significant effect on attention problems and grit. However, when the media use time for play in early childhood was longer, levels of attention problems in early childhood were higher and levels of grit in middle childhood were lower. The mediating effect of attention problems on the relationship between media use time for play of young children and grit of middle childhood was significant. Conclusion/Implications: Findings of the present study suggest that the use of media for play during early childhood needs to be carefully monitored because it can have a negative effect on attention and grit development.