Media Multitasking: A Bibliometric Approach and Literature Review

Media multitasking became increasingly popular over the past decade. As this behavior is intensely taxing cognitive resources, it has raised interest and concerns among academics in a variety of fields. Consequently, in recent years, research on how, when, and why people media multitask has strongly emerged, and the consequences of the behavior for a great variety of outcomes (such as working memory, task performance, or socioemotional outcomes) have been explored. While efforts are made to summarize the findings of media multitasking research until date, these meta, and literature studies focused on specific research subdomains. Therefore, the current study adopted a quantitative method to map all studies in the broad field of media multitasking research. The bibliometric and thematic content analyses helped us identifying five major research topics and trends in the overall media multitasking domain. While media multitasking research started by studying its prevalence, appearance, and predictors, early research within the domain was also interested in the impact of this media consumption behavior on individuals' cognitive control and academic performance. Later on in 2007, scholars investigated the implications of media multitasking on the processing of media- and persuasive content, while its impact on socioemotional well-being received attention ever since 2009. Our analyses indicate that research within the field of media multitasking knows a dominant focus on adolescents, television watching, and cognitive depletion. Based on these findings, the paper concludes by discussing directions for future research.

Multiple Maltreatment and Adverse Childhood Experiences: Exploring Cumulative Threats to Attachment Quality

Child maltreatment and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) often cooccur and are related to negative socioemotional outcomes; however, limited research differentiates how maltreatment versus other ACEs predict such outcomes. These efforts are necessary to determine whether cumulative ACE screening efforts best predict those at risk for poor outcomes. We examined cumulative childhood ACEs, cumulative maltreatment subtypes, and adult attachment quality in 379 young and middle-aged adults. This sample enabled comparison between emerging adults and older adults who have navigated additional developmental tasks that may counteract the effects of early ACEs. More ACEs and maltreatment experiences predicted insecure anxious, avoidant, and fearful attachment styles; however, maltreatment failed to predict unique variance in attachment quality beyond other ACEs. Results suggest that maltreatment may be best categorized as part of a general cumulative risk profile predicting poor socioemotional outcomes. Findings support burgeoning trends in medical and social service settings assessing ACEs using simple dichotomous screening tools to identify those requiring intervention and support services.

Paid Maternal Leave is Associated with Better Language and Socioemotional Outcomes During Toddlerhood

The United States is the only high-income country that does not have a national policy mandating paid leave to working women who give birth. Increased rates of maternal employment post-birth call for greater understanding of the effects of family leave on infant development. This study examined the links between paid leave and toddler language, cognitive, and socio-emotional outcomes (24-36 months; N = 446). Results indicate that paid leave was associated with better language outcomes, regardless of socioeconomic status. Additionally, paid leave was correlated with fewer infant behavior problems, specifically for mothers on the lower end of the SES spectrum. Expanding access to policies that support families in need, like paid family leave, may aid in reducing socioeconomic disparities in infant development.

Associations between prenatal maternal infections and children’s socioemotional outcomes: Evidence from the ALSPAC cohort

Background: Previous studies have suggested there are links between maternal infections during pregnancy and increased odds of offspring schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders, particularly for exposure in the first two trimesters. Few studies have examined associations with outcomes beyond these conditions. Evidence is particularly lacking on links with child outcomes measured with instruments which capture the dimensional nature of psychopathology. Methods: We used data from the (N = 7484) Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to examine links between prenatal maternal infections, reported by mothers at each trimester, and children’s socioemotional outcomes. Child outcomes were measured using the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at age 8. Linear regressions were used to assess associations. Results: Infections during the first trimester were associated with increased conduct problems (B = 0.165, P = < .001) and hyperactivity/inattention (B = 0.185, P = .007). Second trimester infections were associated with increased hyperactivity and/or inattention (B = 0.163, P = .010). This was found after adjusting for maternal age and education, deprivation, child’s sex, maternal prenatal smoking and alcohol use, maternal prenatal distress, history of psychiatric illness and exposure to infections in other trimesters, as well as correcting for multiple comparisons. No associations were found between third trimester infections and child outcomes. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the first and second trimester may be a critical period for the effects of prenatal maternal immune activation on childhood conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention. Potential implications include increased emphasis on preventing common infections in the prenatal period.

Frontal EEG asymmetry moderates the associations between negative temperament and behavioral problems during childhood

Fearful inhibition and impulsivity-anger significantly predict internalizing and externalizing problems, respectively. An important moderator that may affect these associations is frontal EEG asymmetry (FA). We examined how temperament and FA at 6 years interactively predicted behavioral problems at 9 years. A community sample of 186 children (93 boys, 93 girls) participated in the study. Results indicated that the effect of fearful inhibition on parent-reported internalizing problems increased as children exhibited greater right FA. The effect of impulsivity-anger on parent-reported externalizing problems increased as children showed greater left FA. Because FA was allowed to vary rather than children being dichotomized into membership in left FA and right FA groups, we observed that children’s FA contributed to the resilience process only when FA reached specific asymmetry levels. These findings highlight the importance of considering the different functions of FA in combination with specific dimensions of temperament in predicting children’s socioemotional outcomes. Clinical implications include providing suggestions for intervention services by demonstrating the role of FA in developing behavioral problems and inspiring research on whether it is possible to alter EEG activation and thus potentially improve developmental outcomes.

Prenatal maternal infections and children's socioemotional outcomes

Previous research suggests that prenatal maternal infections may be associated with increased odds of children having a neurodevelopmental disorder. However, little evidence exists on associations with broader child outcomes, especially subclinical symptoms. Participants were the N = 14,021 members of the population-representative UK Millennium Cohort Study. We examined associations between prenatal maternal infections, both maternal-reported and hospital-recorded, and children’s socioemotional development, using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at age three. Maternal-reported prenatal infections were associated with increased emotional symptoms, after adjusting for several potential confounds and covariates. Hospital-recorded prenatal infections were not associated with children’s socioemotional outcomes, after adjusting for potential confounding and covarying factors. Findings suggest that prenatal maternal infections, particularly those which the mothers remember months later, may be associated with increased emotional problems in early childhood. This emphasises the need for screening for and preventing infections during pregnancy. Further, the occurrence of prenatal infection indicates the potential need for early intervention for children’s emotional difficulties.