Abstract
Research indicates that children in the UAE are exposed to portable digital devices for more hours than recommended by children’s organisations, which may adversely affect their development. Parents’ perceptions play a crucial role in determining the quality of their children’s exposure to these devices. Since parents’ perceptions are inherently subjective, they perceive the impact of portable digital devices on their children differently across various societies. Intervention programs aimed at enhancing parents’ awareness of the safe exposure of their children to these devices should focus on improving perceptions at the family level. A comprehensive literature review for this study identified a significant gap in research regarding parents’ perceptions of their young children's exposure to portable digital devices in the UAE. Consequently, this research paper aims to examine parental perceptions concerning their children’s safe exposure to these devices in the United Arab Emirates, assessing the alignment of these perceptions with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations. To address the research questions, the study employed a mixed-methods approach, gathering data from parents at three schools in Dubai. The findings revealed that parents’ perceptions in the UAE regarding the safe exposure of their children to portable digital devices both aligned with and diverged from the recommendations provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (2011, 2016). These differences and similarities reflected the unique parental understanding of this issue, shaped by societal culture. The variances and similarities identified in this study highlight that each society has a unique approach to safely exposing children to portable digital devices. By employing both quantitative and qualitative research methods, this study has enriched the understanding of parents’ perceptions about their children’s safe exposure to these devices. The findings are significant and offer invaluable insights that can assist parents in the UAE in improving the quality of their children's exposure to portable digital devices. By integrating these findings into workshops and developing tailored intervention activities, stakeholders can enhance parents’ confidence in monitoring their children’s exposure to these devices.Currently, the UAE lacks established guidelines for safe children’s exposure to Portable Digital Devices. The study shows that parents’ perceptions of their children’s exposure to these devices are influenced by the challenges they encounter and the unique needs of UAE society. Therefore, it would benefit parents to access a dedicated organisation that offers recommendations tailored to the UAE context, backed by research conducted in the region.
| Date of Award | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Anna Robb (Supervisor) & Lynsey Burke (Supervisor) |