Parental TechnoferenceTECH-SDQNCT07387133
Parental Technoference and Behavioral-Emotional Development in Early Childhood: A 6-Month Prospective Study
An observational study of Parental Technoference and Child Behavioral Problems, run by Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to examine the relationship between parental technoference (parents' use of smartphones or other digital devices while spending time with their children) and behavioral and emotional development in early childhood. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 24 to 60 monthsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Parental Technoference, Child Behavioral Problems, Emotional Development in Early Childhood
- How many people
- 250 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2026to 1 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 24 to 60 months
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Study population: The study population consists of parents and their children aged 24 to 60 months who attend a pediatric outpatient clinic at a tertiary training and research hospital.
Who may be able to join
- Children aged 24 to 60 months.
- Parent or primary caregiver able to read and understand Turkish.
- Parent uses a smartphone and can access device-based screen time information.
- Ability to complete an online questionnaire.
- Provision of written informed consent by the parent or legal guardian.
- Availability for a 6-month follow-up assessment.
Who cannot join
- Children with severe neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, severe intellectual disability, neurometabolic diseases).
- Parents unable to reliably complete questionnaires due to cognitive, psychiatric, or language-related limitations.
- Parents who do not use a smartphone or cannot access screen time data.
- Refusal or inability to provide informed consent.
- Inability to be contacted for follow-up assessment.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Sancaktepe Prof. Dr. Ilhan Varank Training and Research Hospital
Istanbul
timucin imdadoglu, MD, +905357426892, dr.timucini@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Early Childhood Parental Technoference and Behavioral-Emotional Development: A Six-Month Prospective Study
This study aims to examine the relationship between parental technoference (parents' use of smartphones or other digital devices while spending time with their children) and behavioral and emotional development in early childhood.
The study will include parents of children aged 24 to 60 months who attend a pediatric outpatient clinic. At the beginning of the study, parents will complete an online questionnaire that includes questions about their own smartphone screen time, their child's screen exposure, and standardized questionnaires assessing parental technoference and children's behavioral and emotional characteristics.
Read more
Six months after the initial assessment, parents will be contacted again to complete a short follow-up questionnaire, including the behavioral and emotional assessment. The study does not involve any medical intervention or experimental treatment. All participation is voluntary, and responses will be collected anonymously.
The findings of this study are expected to contribute to a better understanding of how parental digital device use during daily interactions may be associated with children's emotional and behavioral development in early childhood.
Read the detailed description
This is a single-center, prospective observational study conducted among parents of children aged 24 to 60 months attending a pediatric outpatient clinic at a tertiary training and research hospital.
Parental technoference is defined as interruptions in parent-child interactions due to parental use of smartphones or other digital devices. At baseline, participating parents will complete an online questionnaire that includes sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported average daily smartphone screen time over the previous seven days (recorded from the device's built-in screen time or digital wellbeing function), and information about the child's daily screen exposure.
Parental technoference will be assessed using a validated parental technoference scale, and children's behavioral and emotional characteristics will be evaluated using the parent-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for preschool-aged children. Both instruments have established validity and reliability in the Turkish population.
At the end of the baseline assessment, parents will be provided with a brief informational message aimed at increasing awareness of digital distractions during parent-child interactions. No behavioral intervention will be enforced as part of the study.
Six months after the initial assessment, parents will be re-contacted via phone or email and invited to complete a follow-up questionnaire, including the SDQ and updated information on parental and child screen exposure. The primary outcome is the association between parental technoference levels and children's behavioral and emotional outcomes. Secondary outcomes include changes in SDQ scores over the six-month follow-up period.
All data will be collected anonymously and analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, including correlation analyses and multivariable regression models. This study involves no medical intervention and poses minimal risk to participants.
- Conditions
- Parental Technoference, Child Behavioral Problems, Emotional Development in Early Childhood
- Keywords
- parent-child interaction, screen time, preschool children, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, digital media use
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Parent-Child Dyads (24-60 Months) | This cohort includes parents and their children aged 24 to 60 months who attend a pediatric outpatient clinic at a tertiary training and research hospital. Participants are assessed at baseline using questionnaires evaluating parental technoference, parental and child screen time, and children's behavioral and emotional characteristics. A follow-up assessment is conducted six months later. This is an observational study, and no intervention is assigned. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Child Behavioral and Emotional Difficulties (SDQ Total Difficulties Score)
Children's behavioral and emotional difficulties will be assessed using the parent-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The primary outcome is the SDQ Total Difficulties Score measured at baseline and at 6-month follow-up.
Measured: Baseline and 6 months
Secondary outcomes (3)
Parental Technoference Level
Parental technoference will be measured using a validated parental technoference scale assessing the frequency of digital device-related interruptions during parent-child interactions.
Measured: Baseline
Changes in Children's Behavioral and Emotional Characteristics Over Time
Changes in children's behavioral and emotional characteristics will be evaluated by comparing SDQ Total Difficulties and subscale scores between baseline and the 6-month follow-up assessment.
Measured: Baseline to 6 months
Child Screen Exposure
Child screen exposure will be assessed based on parent-reported average daily screen time across different digital media devices.
Measured: Baseline and 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Feb 2026
- Study start1 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Parental TechnoferenceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Saglik Bilimleri UniversitesiThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 250 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Timucin imdadoglu, MD, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07387133
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- TEKNOFERANS-SDQ-2026
- Other IDs
- EthicsNo-2026/19-Sancaktepe
- Acronym
- TECH-SDQ
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared, as the study involves anonymized questionnaire-based data collected for observational research purposes only, and no data sharing plan has been approved by the ethics committee.
Publications
Moemenbellah-Fard MD, Shahriari B, Azizi K, Fakoorziba MR, Mohammadi J, Amin M. Faunal distribution of fleas and their blood-feeding preferences using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays from farm animals and human shelters in a new rural region of southern Iran. J Parasit Dis. 2016 Mar;40(1):169-75. doi: 10.1007/s12639-014-0471-1. Epub 2014 May 25.
PubMed 27065620Goodman R. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: a research note. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1997 Jul;38(5):581-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1997.tb01545.x.
PubMed 9255702
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Early Childhood Parental Technoference and Behavioral-Emotional Development: A Six-Month Prospective Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07387133
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TECH-SDQ / TEKNOFERANS-SDQ-2026
- Conditions
- Parental Technoference, Child Behavioral Problems, Emotional Development in Early Childhood
- Keywords
- parent-child interaction, screen time, preschool children, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, digital media use
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 250 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Saglik Bilimleri UniversitesiUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to examine the relationship between parental technoference (parents' use of smartphones or other digital devices while spending time with their children) and behavioral and emotional development in early childhood.
The study will include parents of children aged 24 to 60 months who attend a pediatric outpatient clinic. At the beginning of the study, parents will complete an online questionnaire that includes questions about their own smartphone screen time, their child's screen exposure, and standardized questionnaires assessing parental technoference and children's behavioral and emotional characteristics.
Six months after the initial assessment, parents will be contacted again to complete a short follow-up questionnaire, including the behavioral and emotional assessment. The study does not involve any medical intervention or experimental treatment. All participation is voluntary, and responses will be collected anonymously.
The findings of this study are expected to contribute to a better understanding of how parental digital device use during daily interactions may be associated with children's emotional and behavioral development in early childhood.
Detailed description
This is a single-center, prospective observational study conducted among parents of children aged 24 to 60 months attending a pediatric outpatient clinic at a tertiary training and research hospital.
Parental technoference is defined as interruptions in parent-child interactions due to parental use of smartphones or other digital devices. At baseline, participating parents will complete an online questionnaire that includes sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported average daily smartphone screen time over the previous seven days (recorded from the device's built-in screen time or digital wellbeing function), and information about the child's daily screen exposure.
Parental technoference will be assessed using a validated parental technoference scale, and children's behavioral and emotional characteristics will be evaluated using the parent-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for preschool-aged children. Both instruments have established validity and reliability in the Turkish population.
At the end of the baseline assessment, parents will be provided with a brief informational message aimed at increasing awareness of digital distractions during parent-child interactions. No behavioral intervention will be enforced as part of the study.
Six months after the initial assessment, parents will be re-contacted via phone or email and invited to complete a follow-up questionnaire, including the SDQ and updated information on parental and child screen exposure. The primary outcome is the association between parental technoference levels and children's behavioral and emotional outcomes. Secondary outcomes include changes in SDQ scores over the six-month follow-up period.
All data will be collected anonymously and analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, including correlation analyses and multivariable regression models. This study involves no medical intervention and poses minimal risk to participants.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Parent-Child Dyads (24-60 Months) | – | –This cohort includes parents and their children aged 24 to 60 months who attend a pediatric outpatient clinic at a tertiary training and research hospital. Participants are assessed at baseline using questionnaires evaluating parental technoference, parental and child screen time, and children's behavioral and emotional characteristics. A follow-up assessment is conducted six months later. This is an observational study, and no intervention is assigned. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 24 to 60 months
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
- Study population
- The study population consists of parents and their children aged 24 to 60 months who attend a pediatric outpatient clinic at a tertiary training and research hospital.
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Children aged 24 to 60 months.
- Parent or primary caregiver able to read and understand Turkish.
- Parent uses a smartphone and can access device-based screen time information.
- Ability to complete an online questionnaire.
- Provision of written informed consent by the parent or legal guardian.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Children with severe neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, severe intellectual disability, neurometabolic diseases).
- Parents unable to reliably complete questionnaires due to cognitive, psychiatric, or language-related limitations.
- Parents who do not use a smartphone or cannot access screen time data.
- Refusal or inability to provide informed consent.
- Inability to be contacted for follow-up assessment.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Child Behavioral and Emotional Difficulties (SDQ Total Difficulties Score)
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Children's behavioral and emotional difficulties will be assessed using the parent-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The primary outcome is the SDQ Total Difficulties Score measured at baseline and at 6-month follow-up.
3 secondary outcomes
Parental Technoference Level
Time frame: Baseline
Changes in Children's Behavioral and Emotional Characteristics Over Time
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Child Screen Exposure
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Feb 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 27065620Moemenbellah-Fard MD, Shahriari B, Azizi K, Fakoorziba MR, Mohammadi J, Amin M. Faunal distribution of fleas and their blood-feeding preferences using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays from farm animals and human shelters in a new rural region of southern Iran. J Parasit Dis. 2016 Mar;40(1):169-75. doi: 10.1007/s12639-014-0471-1. Epub 2014 May 25.
- Results publication: PubMed 9255702Goodman R. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: a research note. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1997 Jul;38(5):581-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1997.tb01545.x.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared, as the study involves anonymized questionnaire-based data collected for observational research purposes only, and no data sharing plan has been approved by the ethics committee.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Parental Technoference and Child Behavioral Problems, run by Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Timucin Imdadoglu, MD (+905357426892, dr.timucini@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Child Behavioral and Emotional Difficulties (SDQ Total Difficulties Score) (time frame: Baseline and 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07387133, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Feb 2026.