Adverse Childhood Experiences, Positive Childhood Experiences, and Digital Media Use among Children and Adolescents in the United States

Abstract Compensatory internet use has been demonstrated to be a potential coping mechanism for stressors, which may lead to heavy digital media use. Little is known about what family-based factors may contribute to heavy digital media use among children and adolescents. This study used cross-sectional data from the 2021–2022 National Survey of Children’s Health to examine the prevalence of adverse and positive childhood experiences (ACEs and PCEs) and how these rates may vary by light, moderate, and heavy digital media use among children and adolescents in a nationally representative sample in the U.S ( n = 52,256). Bivariate analyses were used to estimate prevalences and multivariable regression models were used to examine the relationship between ACEs, PCEs and heavy digital media use. Children who engaged in heavy digital media use were more likely to report each type of ACE than children who engaged in light digital media use ( p < 0.0001). Alternatively, children who engaged in heavy digital media use were less likely to report each type of PCE than children who engaged in light digital media use ( p < 0.0001). Children who had experienced four or more ACEs had a higher odds of heavy digital media use than children who had experienced less than four ACEs (aOR 1.67; 95% CI 1.43–1.95). The findings from this study are demonstrative for pediatricians that heavy digital media use may indicate a need to screen for ACEs. Programs and interventions that promote the creation of positive childhood experiences are further needed to address digital media usage concerns.