Role of Parental and Other Risk Factors in Smartphone Addiction among Preschoolers

Abstract

A smartphone is a term for distinguishing mobile phones with advanced features from basic feature phones. This term was basically introduced in the market for a new class of mobile phones that provide integrated services from communication, computing and mobile sectors such as voice communication, messaging, personal information management applications, and wireless communication capability. That is why; this device is the most used gadget today. Due to advancing technology, most of the metro city families switching from landline to smartphones. Both parents have mobile phones; a child has access to it since a very young age. Due to developments in IT sector, most of the urban schools adopting the concept of e-learning and digital class. Modern smartphones currently include all the features of a laptop including web browsing, Wi-Fi, and 3rd party apps which allow children to access the internet, communicate, and entertain themselves anywhere and anytime and they use it as their constant companion. Adults use the smartphones for official or entertainment purpose, the addiction among the children is also on the peak. This excessive use can lead to various musculoskeletal, psychological, and visual problems which can affect the health of an individual. There are various causes which lead to smartphone addiction in children. Among all the causes, role of parents is very important and suggested as the main cause for the addiction. In this review, we will discuss various causes of smartphone addiction in preschoolers.