Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered daily life, potentially impacting children’s digital media usage. This study investigates changes in smart device usage among children in South Korea, considering the pandemic’s effects. Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted on a cohort of 313 children aged 8–11 years from 2018 to 2021. The study measured weekly usage of personal computers (PCs), tablet PCs, and smartphones, comparing pre-pandemic (up to 2020) and post-pandemic periods. Partial correlation analysis was employed to assess the impact of COVID-19, controlling for covariates such as age, household income, and parental education. Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in smart device usage time following the onset of the pandemic. This increase remained statistically significant even after accounting for covariates. Notably, both age and maternal education level were significant factors influencing device usage. Conclusion This study demonstrates a significant shift in the digital behavior of children aged 8–11 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in smart device usage underscores the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on children’s daily routines and suggests a need for further research into its long-term effects. The findings highlight the importance of considering external societal changes when analyzing trends in digital media usage among children.

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered daily life, potentially impacting children’s digital media usage. This study investigates changes in smart device usage among children in South Korea, considering the pandemic’s effects. Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted on a cohort of 313 children aged 8–11 years from 2018 to 2021. The study measured weekly usage of personal computers (PCs), tablet PCs, and smartphones, comparing pre-pandemic (up to 2020) and post-pandemic periods. Partial correlation analysis was employed to assess the impact of COVID-19, controlling for covariates such as age, household income, and parental education. Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in smart device usage time following the onset of the pandemic. This increase remained statistically significant even after accounting for covariates. Notably, both age and maternal education level were significant factors influencing device usage. Conclusion This study demonstrates a significant shift in the digital behavior of children aged 8–11 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in smart device usage underscores the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on children’s daily routines and suggests a need for further research into its long-term effects. The findings highlight the importance of considering external societal changes when analyzing trends in digital media usage among children.

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered daily life, potentially impacting children’s digital media usage. This study investigates changes in smart device usage among children in South Korea, considering the pandemic’s effects. Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted on a cohort of 313 children aged 8–11 years from 2018 to 2021. The study measured weekly usage of personal computers (PCs), tablet PCs, and smartphones, comparing pre-pandemic (up to 2020) and post-pandemic periods. Partial correlation analysis was employed to assess the impact of COVID-19, controlling for covariates such as age, household income, and parental education. Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in smart device usage time following the onset of the pandemic. This increase remained statistically significant even after accounting for covariates. Notably, both age and maternal education level were significant factors influencing device usage. Conclusion This study demonstrates a significant shift in the digital behavior of children aged 8–11 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in smart device usage underscores the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on children’s daily routines and suggests a need for further research into its long-term effects. The findings highlight the importance of considering external societal changes when analyzing trends in digital media usage among children.

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered daily life, potentially impacting children’s digital media usage. This study investigates changes in smart device usage among children in South Korea, considering the pandemic’s effects. Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted on a cohort of 313 children aged 8–11 years from 2018 to 2021. The study measured weekly usage of personal computers (PCs), tablet PCs, and smartphones, comparing pre-pandemic (up to 2020) and post-pandemic periods. Partial correlation analysis was employed to assess the impact of COVID-19, controlling for covariates such as age, household income, and parental education. Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in smart device usage time following the onset of the pandemic. This increase remained statistically significant even after accounting for covariates. Notably, both age and maternal education level were significant factors influencing device usage. Conclusion This study demonstrates a significant shift in the digital behavior of children aged 8–11 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in smart device usage underscores the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on children’s daily routines and suggests a need for further research into its long-term effects. The findings highlight the importance of considering external societal changes when analyzing trends in digital media usage among children.

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered daily life, potentially impacting children’s digital media usage. This study investigates changes in smart device usage among children in South Korea, considering the pandemic’s effects. Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted on a cohort of 313 children aged 8–11 years from 2018 to 2021. The study measured weekly usage of personal computers (PCs), tablet PCs, and smartphones, comparing pre-pandemic (up to 2020) and post-pandemic periods. Partial correlation analysis was employed to assess the impact of COVID-19, controlling for covariates such as age, household income, and parental education. Results: The analysis revealed a significant increase in smart device usage time following the onset of the pandemic. This increase remained statistically significant even after accounting for covariates. Notably, both age and maternal education level were significant factors influencing device usage. Conclusion This study demonstrates a significant shift in the digital behavior of children aged 8–11 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in smart device usage underscores the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on children’s daily routines and suggests a need for further research into its long-term effects. The findings highlight the importance of considering external societal changes when analyzing trends in digital media usage among children.

Purpose: Patients’ perception of fall risk is a promising new indicator for fall prevention. Therefore, a fall risk perception questionnaire that can be used rapidly and repeatedly in acute care settings is required. This study aimed to develop a short version of the fall risk perception questionnaire (Short-FRPQ) for inpatients. Methods: For the psychometric measurements, 246 inpatients were recruited from an acute care hospital. The construct (using confirmatory factor analysis and discriminant validity of each item), convergent, and known-group validities were tested to determine the validity of the Short-FRPQ. McDonald’s omega coefficient was used to examine the internal consistency of reliability. Results: In the confirmatory factor analysis, the fit indices of the Short-FRPQ, comprising 14 items and three factors, appeared to be satisfactory. The Short-FRPQ had a significantly positive correlation with the original scale, the Korean Falls Efficacy Scale-International, and the Morse Fall Scale. The risk of falls group, assessed using the Morse Fall Scale, had a higher score on the Short-FRPQ. McDonald’s omega coefficient was .90. Conclusion The Short-FRPQ presents good reliability and validity. As patient participation is essential in fall interventions, evaluating the fall risk perception of inpatients quickly and repeatedly using scales of acceptable validity and reliability is necessary.

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a decrease in face-to-face classes worldwide, affecting the mental health of children and their parents. The global pandemic has increased children’s overall use of electronic media. This study analyzed the effect of children’s screen time on problematic behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 186 parents from Suwon, South Korea, were recruited to participate in an online survey. The mean age of the children was 10.14 years old, and 44.1% were females. The questionnaire included questions on children’s screen time, problematic behaviors, and parental stress. Children’s behavioral problems were evaluated using the Behavior Problem Index, whereas the Parental Stress Scale was used to estimate parental stress. Results: The mean smartphone usage frequency of the children was 5.35 days per week, and the mean smartphone screen time was 3.52 hours per day. Smartphone screen time (Z=4.49, p<0.001) and usage frequency (Z=2.75, p=0.006) were significantly correlated with children’s behavioral problem scores. The indirect effect of parental stress on this relationship was also statistically significant (p=0.049, p=0.045, respectively). Conclusion This study suggests that children’s smartphone screen time has affected problematic behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, parental stress is related to the relationship between children’s screen time and problematic behaviors.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to develop and validate the Korean version of the clinician-administered KSADSCOMP, which is the recently updated, web-based computerized version of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for school-age children (KSADS). Methods: A total of 71 participants (mean age=12.04±3.86 years, female=29.57%) participated in the study. A child-adolescent psychiatrist established a diagnosis for the participant after a thorough psychiatric interview with the participant and the parent. Researchers who were blind to the diagnoses administered the clinician-administered KSADS-COMP to the parents and participants. The gold-standard diagnoses made by child-adolescent psychiatrists were compared to the current diagnoses generated by the clinician-administered KSADS-COMP. Percent agreement, Cohen’s Kappa, Gwet’s first-order agreement coefficient (AC1), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated. Results: Gwet’s AC1, our preferred measure of agreement, showed excellent range between 0.78 and 1. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value and negative predictive value also showed high scores. Conclusion The current study demonstrated excellent criterion validity of the Korean version of the clinician-administered KSADSCOMP, though the small sample size could be a limitation. The current study was the first study to examine the criterion validity of the KSADS-COMP. Due to its readily usable format and efficient and accurate diagnostic process, widely-use of KSADS-COMP is expected.

Background: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has continued for a couple of years, the long-term effects of the pandemic and the subsequent school curriculum modification on the mental health of children and parents need to be investigated. To clarify the changes that can occur during one school year and to predict the risk factors for vulnerable groups, this study identified parameters relative to children’s screen time, their problematic behavior, and parental depression. Methods: A total of 186 participants were analyzed who were parents of elementary schoolchildren in South Korea. These parents were required to complete a web-based questionnaire twice. The questionnaires were conducted in June 2020 and September 2021. Participants’ general demographics including family income, children’s screen time, sleep patterns, problematic behavior, and parental depression were assessed via the parental questionnaire that included various measurement tools. Results: Children’s body mass index (BMI) increased significantly in 2021 (18.94 ± 3.75 vs. 18.14 ± 3.30, P < 0.001). Smartphone frequency of use per week (5.35 vs. 4.54, P < 0.001) and screen time per day (3.52 vs. 3.16, P < 0.001) significantly increased during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The television screen time (2.88 vs. 3.26, P < 0.001), frequency of viewing (3.77 vs. 4.77, P < 0.001), and children’s problematic behaviors significantly decreased (9.15 vs. 11.85,P < 0.001). A lower income household was a key predictor of increased smartphone frequency (B = 1.840, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.923–2.757, P < 0.001) and smartphone screen time (B = 1.992, 95% CI, 1.458–2.525, P < 0.001). The results showed that the lower income household (B = 5.624, 95% CI, 2.927–8.320, P < 0.001) and a child’s psychiatric treatment history (B = 7.579, 95% CI, 5.666–9.492, P < 0.001) was the most significant predictor of problematic behaviors of children and parental depression (B = 3.476, 95% CI, 1.628–5.325, P < 0.001; B = 3.138, 95% CI, 1.827–4.450, P < 0.001). Conclusion This study suggested that children’s smartphone screen time and BMI increased during COVID-19 because of the school curriculum modification following school closures in South Korea. The increased children’s problematic behaviors and parental depression were predicted by lower-income households and the previous psychiatric history of children. These results indicate that multiple social support systems to the vulnerable group are needed during the ongoing pandemic and that a modified school setting is required.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is different from previous disasters in that it continues to the present and has affected all aspects of family life. During epidemics, psychosocial support is not less important than infection control. During COVID-19-related school closures, prolonged partial closures of schools could have detrimental social and health consequences for children and may increase the burden on the family. Based on a community sample in Korea, this study identified parental concerns, children's media usage, other various factors and examined whether parental stress level or depression were positively associated with problem behaviors, media exposure, and sleep problems of the primary school children during school closure under COVID-19. Methods: Participants were 217 parents residing in Suwon, South Korea, who had primary school children and responded to a web-based questionnaire on parental concerns from school closure under COVID-19, subjective stress, depression, whether having received mental health services, and family characteristics; children's sleep patterns, problem behaviors, media usage during the online-only class period, and changes in activity level following the pandemic. Results: During school closure, children gained body weight, spent less time in physical activities and more in media usage. Besides online learning content (97.2%), YouTube was highly used content (87.6%), and games followed (78.3%). Parental subjective stress index was highly associated with parental depression (Pearson correlation 0.439, P < 0.001), children's sleep problems (0.283, P < 0.001), tablet time (0.171, P = 0.012) and behavior problems (0.413, P < 0.001). Parental depression was associated with children's sleep problems (0.355, P < 0.001), TV time (0.153, P = 0.024), tablet time (0.159, P = 0.019), and behavior problems (0.524, P < 0.001). Parents who previously received mental services seemed to be more concerned about the problems their children already have getting worse because of COVID-19 than the disease itself. Children's sleep problem was associated with tablet (0.172, P = 0.011) and smartphone time (0.298, P < 0.001), but not its frequency. Conclusion During COVID-19-related school closures, many parents and children had various difficulties relating to mental health. Ongoing monitoring of mental health of highrisk groups and multiple support systems may need to be expanded to cover those parents having difficulty in caring for their children.