Dealing with media distractions: An observational study of computer-based multitasking among children and adults in the Netherlands

The aim of this observational study was to investigate differences in
computer-based multitasking among children and adults. Moreover,
the study investigated how attention problems are related to
computer-based multitasking and how these individual differences
interact with age. Computer-based multitasking was observed for a
10-minute period among children (N = 164, aged 6–13) and adults
(N = 160, aged 18–75) in the Netherlands. The findings indicated
that individuals find it indeed difficult to focus their attention on a
main activity in the presence of appealing media distractors. A main
effect for age was qualified by an interaction effect between age
and attention problems. There was a positive relationship between
attention problems and computer-based multitasking only for
children but not for adults. The findings indicate that particularly
children with attention problems are easily distracted by other media
activities.