Screen exposure before age two and developmental outcomes in early childhood: a national cross-sectional study in China

Screen exposure before the age of two was associated with poorer developmental outcomes, particularly in the language, social behavior, and fine motor domains. Limiting daily screen time emerged as a crucial factor associated with better developmental scores. Additionally, girls exhibited a weaker association between screen time and lower scores compared to boys. These findings highlight the importance of public health recommendations focused on reducing daily screen use and addressing gender differences.