• Human Ecology Research
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.541-553
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• 2018

This study examined the influences of infants' age for the first use of smart devices and the amount of time to use them on the externalizing problem behavior as well as investigated whether maternal managing behavior (setting rules on accessing smart devices and monitoring their child's use of smart devices) had moderating effects. The study participants consisted of 521 three to six year old infants (235 boys and 286 girls). The data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and a hierarchical regression. The results of this study indicated that the age at first use of smart devices and maternal managing behavior had significant effects on the externalizing problem behavior of infants. The earlier the infants first used smart devices, the higher the level of externalizing problem behavior. Externalizing problem behavior was also found to be higher when the mothers showed no managing behavior. Second, maternal managing behavior moderated the relation between the age at first use of smart devices and the externalizing problem behavior of infants. The effects of the age at first use of smart devices on the externalizing problem behavior of infants were greater when the mothers did not set rules regarding the use of smart devices and did not supervise children when using smart devices.