Hubungan Penggunaan Gadget Dengan kemampuan Intraksi Sosial dan Emosional Anak Usia 3-6 Tahun di Paud An-Nawawi Kecematan Tamanan Kabupaten Bondowoso

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the relationship between gadget use and the social-emotional interaction abilities of children aged 3–6 years. The research background is rooted in the increasing intensity of gadget use among preschool children, which raises concerns about its negative impact on social-emotional development. The main issue addressed is the extent to which gadget use affects children’s ability to build social interactions, regulate emotions, and display prosocial behaviors. A quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design was applied. The study involved all children aged 3–6 years enrolled at PAUD An-Nawawi, Tamanan District, Bondowoso, totaling 43 respondents selected through total sampling. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires consisting of 16 items measuring gadget use and 21 items assessing social-emotional interaction skills. Validity and reliability testing confirmed all items were valid and reliable, with Cronbach’s Alpha values of 0.899 for the gadget use instrument and 0.948 for the social-emotional instrument. Data analysis was conducted using Spearman Rank correlation with SPSS version 16. The findings revealed that most children used gadgets with high intensity (65%) and showed social-emotional interaction in the borderline category (56%). The Spearman Rank test resulted in r = -0.452 with p = 0.003, indicating a significant negative relationship between gadget use and children’s social-emotional interaction abilities. The study concludes that the higher the intensity of gadget use, the lower the children’s social-emotional capacity. These findings contribute to the development of early childhood education and child health sciences while providing practical implications for parents and educators to limit gadget use and implement more effective strategies to stimulate social-emotional growth.