코로나19 전후 아동의 디지털 기기 이용의 잠재계층 분류와 전이 영향요인 검증

Classification of Latent Class and Verification of Influencing Factors for Digital Device Usage Before and After COVID-19

This study confirms the types of longitudinal changes in children’s digital device use before and after COVID-19, and analyzes the factors affecting each latent class and the transition between these over time. Using data from the 12th and 13th years of the Panel Study on Korean Children, COVID-19, we conducted latent profile analyses to determine the latent classes for each year. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to explore predictive variables that affect patterns of transitions between the classes over time. The analysis was conducted using SPSS 22.0 and Mplus 8.3. Children were classified into three and four classes according to their level and pattern of digital device use before and after COVID-19, respectively. Regarding the potential class of children using digital devices, the proportion of transitioning from “regular user (2019)” to “regular user (2020)” was the highest at 72%. Additionally, child’s gender and the level of media addiction, and the total number of children in the household had significant effects on the transition pattern of children’s use of digital devices. This study emphasized the need for active media use interventions by parents that take children’s characteristics such as gender and the degree of media addiction into account.