Associations Between Caregiver Smartphone Use in a Child's Presence and Motor Skills and Executive Function in Preschoolers: SUNRISE International Study
Issued Date
2026-07-01
Resource Type
ISSN
03051862
eISSN
13652214
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105041657773
Journal Title
Child Care Health and Development
Volume
52
Issue
4
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Child Care Health and Development Vol.52 No.4 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Toledo-Vargas M., Chong K.H., Engberg E., Jáuregui A., Martins C., Byambaa A., López-Gil J.F., Abdeta C., Mwase-Vuma T., El Hamdouchi A., Lubree H., Aoko O.A., Chelly M.S., Chia M.Y.H., Ghofranipour F., Gonzalez-Santamaria J., Jarani J., Katewongsa P., Kontsevaya A., Singh P., Subedi N., Teo W.P., Tiongco M.M., Trampa K., Turab A., Užičanin E., Veldman S.L.C., Okely A.D. Associations Between Caregiver Smartphone Use in a Child's Presence and Motor Skills and Executive Function in Preschoolers: SUNRISE International Study. Child Care Health and Development Vol.52 No.4 (2026). doi:10.1111/cch.70305 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/117416
Title
Associations Between Caregiver Smartphone Use in a Child's Presence and Motor Skills and Executive Function in Preschoolers: SUNRISE International Study
Author(s)
Toledo-Vargas M.
Chong K.H.
Engberg E.
Jáuregui A.
Martins C.
Byambaa A.
López-Gil J.F.
Abdeta C.
Mwase-Vuma T.
El Hamdouchi A.
Lubree H.
Aoko O.A.
Chelly M.S.
Chia M.Y.H.
Ghofranipour F.
Gonzalez-Santamaria J.
Jarani J.
Katewongsa P.
Kontsevaya A.
Singh P.
Subedi N.
Teo W.P.
Tiongco M.M.
Trampa K.
Turab A.
Užičanin E.
Veldman S.L.C.
Okely A.D.
Chong K.H.
Engberg E.
Jáuregui A.
Martins C.
Byambaa A.
López-Gil J.F.
Abdeta C.
Mwase-Vuma T.
El Hamdouchi A.
Lubree H.
Aoko O.A.
Chelly M.S.
Chia M.Y.H.
Ghofranipour F.
Gonzalez-Santamaria J.
Jarani J.
Katewongsa P.
Kontsevaya A.
Singh P.
Subedi N.
Teo W.P.
Tiongco M.M.
Trampa K.
Turab A.
Užičanin E.
Veldman S.L.C.
Okely A.D.
Author's Affiliation
Universidade do Porto
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
University of Wollongong
Tarbiat Modares University
University of Lagos
National Institute of Education
De La Salle University
Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica
University of Malawi
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health
Folkhälsan
Universidad de Los Lagos
National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine
Universidad Espíritu Santo
Univerzitet u Tuzli
National Energy Center of Nuclear Science and Technology
Fiji National University
KEM Hospital
Institut Supérieur du Sport et de l'Education Physique de Ksar-Saïd
Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University
Mulier Institute
Albanian Sports Science Association
University Foundation of the Andean Area
Precision Health Consultants Global
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
University of Wollongong
Tarbiat Modares University
University of Lagos
National Institute of Education
De La Salle University
Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica
University of Malawi
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health
Folkhälsan
Universidad de Los Lagos
National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine
Universidad Espíritu Santo
Univerzitet u Tuzli
National Energy Center of Nuclear Science and Technology
Fiji National University
KEM Hospital
Institut Supérieur du Sport et de l'Education Physique de Ksar-Saïd
Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University
Mulier Institute
Albanian Sports Science Association
University Foundation of the Andean Area
Precision Health Consultants Global
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background: The preschool years are a crucial period for development. Stable environments and responsive caregivers support children's cognitive and motor development, two interrelated and essential domains. Caregiver smartphone use in front of children may reduce attention and responsiveness, which have been negatively associated with young children's health and development. We examined associations between the frequency of caregiver smartphone use in a child's presence and motor skills and executive functions, and whether these associations vary by country income level. Methods: We analysed cross-sectional data from 27 countries participating in the SUNRISE International Study. Caregivers reported the frequency of smartphone use in the child's presence across five scenarios: mealtime, playtime, travel, walk and bedtime routines. Children's motor skills were assessed using four established tests. Early Years Toolbox games were used to assess children's visual–spatial working memory and inhibition. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to assess the associations, including interaction terms to test variation by country income level. Models were adjusted for the child's sex, age, daily screen time, time spent outdoors, sleep duration and the caregiver's highest level of education. Results: The analytical sample included 2232 preschoolers (mean age = 4.2 ± 0.6 years, 50.9% girls). In fully adjusted models, the frequency of caregiver smartphone use in a child's presence was not associated with gross motor skills, fine motor skills, visual–spatial working memory or inhibition (all p > 0.05). Results did not differ by country income level. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the frequency of caregiver smartphone use in a child's presence alone may not be associated with performance on motor skills and executive function. There is a need for more sensitive measures that capture the frequency, duration and context of interruptions and more longitudinal studies that examine motor development and cognition. Future research should also account for socioeconomic and demographic diversity, environmental factors and cultural context when assessing such associations.