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.