Morgan McCloskey1, Susan L Johnson2, Cristen Benz1, Darcy A Thompson2, Barbara Chamberlin3, Lauren Clark4, Laura L Bellows5. 1. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO. 3. Media Productions and Learning Games Lab, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM. 4. College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. 5. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. Electronic address: laura.bellows@colostate.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe child use and parents' beliefs and comfort with young children's use of mobile devices in low-income, rural communities. METHODS: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The survey, which consisted of 18 multiple-part questions, was distributed to families at 5 Head Start/preschool centers in Colorado. RESULTS: In total, 192 surveys were returned (28.5% response rate). Most children (92%) used a smartphone or tablet at some frequency and most parents (90%) had downloaded apps specifically for their child. Education and ethnicity were related to parents' technology beliefs. Parent comfort with technology was positively associated with greater child use of technology (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Mobile device use was relatively high in this sample. Mobile devices appear to be a feasible platform to offer nutrition and physical activity education for this audience. Ensuring parent comfort with technology and apps will be important.
OBJECTIVE: To describe child use and parents' beliefs and comfort with young children's use of mobile devices in low-income, rural communities. METHODS: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The survey, which consisted of 18 multiple-part questions, was distributed to families at 5 Head Start/preschool centers in Colorado. RESULTS: In total, 192 surveys were returned (28.5% response rate). Most children (92%) used a smartphone or tablet at some frequency and most parents (90%) had downloaded apps specifically for their child. Education and ethnicity were related to parents' technology beliefs. Parent comfort with technology was positively associated with greater child use of technology (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Mobile device use was relatively high in this sample. Mobile devices appear to be a feasible platform to offer nutrition and physical activity education for this audience. Ensuring parent comfort with technology and apps will be important.
Authors: Morgan L McCloskey; Susan L Johnson; Traci A Bekelman; Corby K Martin; Laura L Bellows Journal: J Nutr Educ Behav Date: 2019-02-28 Impact factor: 3.045