Abstract

In light of an increase in the use of digital media devices, reading has been steadily declining, particularly beginning around K4 through K6. However, there is limited empirical evidence directly supporting this relationship. The present study examined the association between the usage of digital devices and reading, and how children’s executive function (EF) plays a role in this relationship. Overall, 304 parents whose children were in 4th to 6th grades reported on the average time their children spent using digital devices and partaking in various types of reading, together with their children’s attitude toward reading and EF. We also asked parents if they provided media education to their children. The results showed that the more parents use and rely on digital devices, the more their children rely on them. The more time children spent on their smartphones, the less likely they were to spend time reading books. In addition, children with lower EF scores spent more time on digital devices and less time reading, and were also less likely to prefer spending time reading. In particular, the shifting component of EF uniquely predicted reading time and preference. However, no significant moderating effect of EF was observed between digital device usage and reading. Instead, EF predicted reading and digital device usage. When parents provided education about digital device usage, the child’s reading time and preference increased and the EF-related problem score was lower, suggesting that providing education for children about digital device usage can be useful and effective. Together, these results suggest the possibility that factors such as children’s EF development and parental education may play a role in the relationship between children's digital device usage and reading habits.