PhD Scientific Days 2026

Health Sciences 1.

The impact of the digital world on parental education in the field of early childhood development

Name of the presenter

Osztovits, Kinga

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Semmelweis Egyetem, Egészségtudományi Kar, Fizioterápiai Tanszék

Authors

Kinga Osztovits¹
1: Semmelweis Egyetem, Egészségtudományi Kar, Fizioterápiai Tanszék

Text of the abstract

Introduction: Early childhood is a critical period for later motor, cognitive, and psychosocial development. Digital information sources play an increasingly important role in health- and development-related decision-making among parents of young children. In early motor development, however, the quality and reliability of digital content raise professional concerns.

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine how parents of children aged 0–3 years use digital information sources related to motor development, how this influences parental uncertainty, and how therapists working in early intervention perceive the role and risks of digital parental education.

Methods: Two self-developed questionnaires were administered to parents (N = 101) and therapists (N = 20). A mixed-methods approach was applied. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential methods (Spearman correlation and chi-square test), while open-ended responses were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Result: Digital information seeking was common among parents; however, its frequency was not significantly associated with parental uncertainty. In contrast, exposure to contradictory online information showed a significant association with higher levels of uncertainty (p < 0.05). Parents preferred video based, professionally explained content. Digital parental education was positively evaluated by therapists (M = 3.65), but the vast majority (85%) associate the current form of digital content with misunderstandings or therapeutic difficulties.

Conclusion: Digital education is an indispensable tool in early motor development, but its effectiveness depends largely on the quality of the content and professional oversight. Structured, professionally supervised digital education can help reduce parental uncertainty and improve therapeutic cooperation.

Funding: The research was supported by the EKÖP.