Tv Exposure and Mother Child Playtime as Risk Factors for Mother Child Relationship in Early Childhood

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the associations of tv exposure, playtime with children and mother child relationship. Correlational research method was considered for this study. Sample size was 73 mothers whose children’s ages change between 50 and 74 months of age from the largest city İstanbul (33 boys and 40 girls). Turkish version of Child Parent Relationship Scale, family demographic characteristics form and a questionnaire (short answered questions about playtime and tv exposure hours) were used as data collection tools. Bivariate analyses using t tests, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficient were conducted. Multiple linear regression was run to examine associations between TV exposure, play time and mother child relationship. Mothers and children had a high level of positive relationship in the current study. Mothers’ education level, mothers’ age, parents’ work hours and children’s gender and order of birth which were assumed to have a link with mother child relationship didn’t make a significant difference on mother child relationship scores. The link was presented between tv exposure, playtime with children and mother child relationships via regression results. It was concluded that mothers who play with their children more were expected to have higher mother child relationship scores, after controlling for the household tv exposure. Household tv exposure had a significant negative weight, indicating that after accounting for playtime between mothers and children, participants who stated higher household tv exposure were expected to have lower mother child relationship scores.