This study investigates the influence of the quantity, content, and context of screen media use on the language development of 85 Saudi children aged 1 to 3 years. Surveys and weekly event-based diaries were employed to track children’s screen use patterns. Language development was assessed using JISH Arabic Communicative Development Inventory (JACDI). Findings indicate that the most significant predictor of expressive and receptive vocabulary in 12- to 16-month-olds was screen media context (as measured by the frequency of interactive joint media engagements). In older children (17- to 36-month-olds), more screen time (as measured by the amount of time spent using screens, the prevalence of background TV at home, and the onset age of screen use) had the highest negative impact on expressive vocabulary and mean length of utterance. These findings support health recommendations on the negative effects of excessive screen time and the positive effects of co-viewing media with children.

本研究调查了屏幕媒体使用的数量、内容和情境对 85 名 1 至 3 岁沙特儿童语言发展的影响。采用调查和每周基于事件的日记来跟踪儿童的屏幕使用模式。使用 JISH 阿拉伯语交际发展量表 (JACDI) 评估语言发展。研究结果表明，12 至 16 个月大的孩子表达性和接受性词汇的最重要预测因素是屏幕媒体环境（通过互动联合媒体参与的频率来衡量）。对于年龄较大的儿童（17 至 36 个月大），更多的屏幕时间（通过使用屏幕的时间、家里背景电视的普及程度以及开始使用屏幕的年龄来衡量）产生的负面影响最大表达词汇和平均话语长度。这些发现支持了有关过度屏幕时间的负面影响以及与儿童共同观看媒体的积极影响的健康建议。