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. 2020 Mar 2;15(1):1735766. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2020.1735766

Table III.

Categories within each identified theme by focus group

Mothers Group One (n = 8) Mothers Group Two (n = 8) Fathers (n = 4)
Use of Screen Time in the Home

  • Bad habit (1)

  • Hooked (2)

  • Not a problem (2)

  • Some children prefer video games/cell phones over TV (2)

  • To teach (2)

  • Babysitter (2)

  • Placate—not struggle with fussy kids (3)

  • Bad habit (2)

  • Placate—not struggle with fussy kids (2)

  • TV in the bedroom (2)

  • Babysitter (2)

  • Hooked (3)

  • Some children prefer video games/cell phones over TV (3)

  • To teach (5)

  • Placate—not struggle with fussy kids (2)

  • To teach (2)

  • Inexpensive entertainment (3)
Screen Time Rules

  • Teach kids what our parents taught us (2)

  • Husband needs to follow what I suggest (3)

  • Some kids pay attention others don’t (3)

  • Take it away—no screens (3)

  • Rules for use (11)

  • Husband needs to follow what I suggest (2)

  • Take it away—no screens (2)

  • Teach kids what our parents taught us (3)

  • Rules for use (6)

  • Teach kids what our parents taught us (2)

  • Some kids pay attention others don’t (2)

  • Take it away—no screens (3)

  • Desidia (ambivalence) (5)

  • Rules for use (7)
Screen Content

  • Pines for childhood shows (3)

  • American TV shows bad influence (4)

  • Commercials—adult content (4)

  • Internet/video games—adult content (5)

  • Channel surfing—adult content (1)

  • Internet/video games—adult content (3)

  • Commercials—adult content (4)

  • Pines for childhood shows (4)

  • American TV shows bad influence (5)

  • American TV shows bad influence (1)

  • TV content confuses children (1)

  • Telenovelas—nudity (2)

  • Liberal indoctrination (3)

  • Internet/video games—adult content (4)

  • Pines for childhood shows (4)

  • Commercials—adult content (5)
Screens and Food

  • Diabetes a problem, but I give McDonald’s (1)

  • Other people’s kids eat junk food (3)

  • Food and health (4)

  • Hot Cheetos, but snacking not a problem (4)

  • TV–induced food cravings (6)

  • Modified diet for health (1)

  • Fruit when watching TV (1)

  • Other people’s kids eat junk food (2)

  • TV–induced food cravings (2)

  • Hot Cheetos, but snacking not a problem (3)

  • Food and health (3)

  • TV and eating don’t mix (2)
Alternate Activities
Not discussed

  • Screen time and obesity (1)

  • Outside they are happy (2)

  • Movie theatre (1)

  • Family gatherings (2)

  • Reward kids with family fun (2)

  • Wife doesn’t have time (3)

  • Outside they are happy (4)

Frequencies are shown in parentheses.