Curb Smartphone

Addiction in
children through
Arts and Nature
1 Overview
What is smartphone
addiction?
Smartphone addiction, also known as
“Nomophobia”, is often caused by an Internet
overuse problem or Internet addiction disorder.
The truth about smartphone addiction is that
people are not addicted to their smartphones;
they are addicted to the games, applications,
and the personal connections it delivers.

Nomophobia is a proposed term for the

phobia of being without access to a mobile
phone. Although it is not recognized
officially as a psychiatric disorder, the term
“Nomophobia” is commonly used.
2 Context
In Singapore, almost 9
out of 10 respondents
have access to a
smartphone, the
highest globally.
DQ Institute and Singtel
conducted a survey with more Digital Lives of 8 to 12 Year Old Children
than 3,600 children in Singapore, Screen Time (Hours/Week)
between the ages 8 to 12, to
determine how much time they
spent online.

On a global average, children

spend 32 hours online a week.
Singaporean children, on the
other hand, are spending 35
hours online a week instead,
topping the global average.
According to The New Paper (TNP), a 5-
year-old boy had to seek help from a
counsellor to treat his smartphone addiction.

The boy’s addiction started when his

parents resort to using a smartphone to
distract him during mealtimes. Due to the
continuous exposure to smartphones, the
boy eventually got addicted to it and kept
wanting to use it. When his parents told him
to stop using it, he will throw a tantrum.
3 Research
Significance
Increasing number of children at risk.

Touch Cyber Wellness (TCW), a cyber wellness education group, has reported
that the excessive use of smartphones cases has more than doubled from 34
cases in 2015 to 76 cases in 2017.

theAsianparent conducted a study in

Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia
and the Philippines. Over 2,500 parents of
children aged 3 to 8 years old participated.

Key Findings:
98% of the parents in Southeast Asia allow
their children to use smartphones, with
Singapore having the highest number of
children using a device owned by their
parents.
 Psychological and Physical Health Problems

Studies have shown that there is a link between the

increasing smartphone usage and rising rates of Number of Counselling Cases and Sessions
depression, suicide attempts, and suicide among 5000
4563
young children. 4500

4000
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), a suicide prevention
3500
centre, reported that more young children are
expressing suicidal thoughts. 3000

2500 2366

From 2015 to 2016, 77 children aged 5 to 9 and 2000

4,563 children aged 10 to 19 called the SOS hotline
1500
to seek for help. The cases received by SOS were
1000
more than doubled from 2012 to 2013.
500
14 77
In 2016, 22 lives were lost to suicide and they are 0
children aged 10 to 19. 2012 - 2013 2015 - 2016
Age: 5 to 9 Age: 10 to 19
Psychological and Physical Health Problems

AIA’s 2016 Healthy Living Index Survey 7 in 10 of the

shows that Singaporeans are spending an parents in
average of 3.7 hours online per day on Singapore are
entertainment, much higher than the aware that their
regional average of 3 hours. children are not
active enough.

Key health concerns identified: REASONS FOR NOT BEING ACTIVE

1. Singapore is the most sleep-
Spending too much time on smartphones
deprived in the region
Spending too much time on video games
2. Singaporeans are not active
Others
enough, obesity is an issue.
24% 43%
33%
4 Proposed
Programme
#1 Activity: Awareness Camp
 #2 Activity: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Period: Ongoing every weekend, reviewed every 9 weeks.

5 Research
Objectives
Goal #1: To effectively reduce screen time among young
children.

Objective 1.1 – Build insight into the negative effects of smartphone

over usage.

Objective 1.2 – To create change by teaching self-regulation skills,

practicing these skills with appropriate tools.

Objective 1.3 –
Goal #2: To effectively improve the young children’s social
and interpersonal skills.

Objective 2.1 – Teach parents and their children new ways to handle
stress and resolve arguments peacefully.

Objective 2.2 – Setting positive cultural norms

Objective 2.3 – To provide information and discussion on topics

related to social media including privacy, cyber bullying, and other
inappropriate uses of social media related to self-esteem and identity.
6 #1 Literature
Review
Title of Journal:
Findings:
7 #2 Literature
Review
Title of Journal:
Findings:
8 #3 Literature
Review
Title of Journal:
Findings:
9 #4 Literature
Review
Title of Journal:
Findings:
10 Grant
References:
 #1 Activity: Awareness Camps

PIAS will focus on providing nutritional education and counseling for mothers, especially those from the extremely low
income areas. It is expected that through the providing of information to the mothers that it will be possible to have a
direct and positive effect on the well being of the young children of the community.

PIAS will utilize volunteers who are students at UNPEMPER. Each student will be expected to successfully participate in
a 4 week training program at the beginning of their work with PIAS. This training program will provide basic nutritional
information for mothers and information on adult teaching methods. Student volunteers who demonstrate proficiency
during the initial training program will be invited to participate in an advanced training program to learn effective
nutritional counseling techniques. Each student volunteer will be expected to contribute 3-5 hours each week and to
continue with PIAS for a period of not less than 6 months.

PIAS will operate with 6 full and part time staff members. In addition, a Governing Board made up of community
leaders and university staff will operate to provide overall sanctioning of the Center's operation. Periodic evaluations
will be conducted to assess the value of PIAS on a) helping the student volunteers to become effective educators, b)
the development of new understandings on the part of local mothers and c) the improvement of the well being of
children in Kota Emessu.