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Left to Their Own Devices? A Mixed Methods Study Exploring the Impacts of Smartphone Use on Children’s Outdoor Experiences

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  • Jonas Vestergaard Nielsen

    (Active Living, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark)

  • Jan Arvidsen

    (Active Living, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark)

Abstract

The growing use of smartphones has been pointed out as one of the main reasons for the decrease in children’s outdoor time. However, there is still a gap in our understanding of how smartphone use affects children’s outdoor experiences and activities. The aim of the study is to explore children’s dependency on their smartphones, what smartphone functions children use when outdoors and how smartphone use affects children’s outdoor experiences. The study uses a mixed methods design which implements interviews with a small sample of children ( N = 34) in order to help develop a questionnaire for a larger sample ( N = 1148). Both datasets are included in the analysis with a complimentary perspective. The results suggest that children are highly dependent on having their smartphones available as an integrated part of their lives. However, smartphones also create favorable conditions for rich and valuable outdoor lives by expanding children’s and parents’ sense of security, children’s outdoor sociality, and children’s opportunities to mold their outdoor experiences. We stress that children’s passion for the digital world needs to be reconsidered as not ‘all bad’, but more as a condition in modern children’s lives and an asset to embrace in future strategies for actively engaging children in outdoor activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonas Vestergaard Nielsen & Jan Arvidsen, 2021. "Left to Their Own Devices? A Mixed Methods Study Exploring the Impacts of Smartphone Use on Children’s Outdoor Experiences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3115-:d:519395
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Natan Feter & Tiago Silva Santos & Eduardo Lucia Caputo & Marcelo Cozzensa Silva, 2019. "What is the role of smartphones on physical activity promotion? A systematic review and meta-analysis," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(5), pages 679-690, June.
    2. Travis J. Saunders & Jeff K. Vallance, 2017. "Screen Time and Health Indicators Among Children and Youth: Current Evidence, Limitations and Future Directions," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 323-331, June.
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