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The value of social-cognitive theory to reducing preschool TV viewing: a pilot randomized trial
Frederick J Zimmerman1, Selena E Ortiz, Dimitri A Christakis
1Fred W. and Pamela K. Wasserman Chair, Department of Health Services, Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA. fredzimmerman@ucla.edu
Objective:
To (a) reduce the total amount of television viewing to which preschool children are exposed; and (b) shift the balance of exposure away from commercial television toward educational content.
Method:
Randomized controlled clinical trial. Data collected in 2007; analyzed 2008-2011. Participants were 67 English-speaking families in Seattle with a preschool-aged child exposed to more than 90 min of television viewing on average per day. A case manager for each group used in-person conferences, monthly newsletters, and e-mail contact to motivate behavior change around child television viewing (intervention) or child safety (control).
Results:
Compared to those in the control group, families randomized to the intervention group experienced a significant reduction by 37 minutes/day in total viewing time (95% CI: 5.6-68.7), including a marginally significant reduction by 29 minutes/day in viewing of commercial content (95% CI: -4.6-63). Compared to those in the control group, those in the intervention group experienced a positive change in outcome expectations. There were no significant changes in self-efficacy or volitional control. An advance in stage-of-change was marginally significant.
Conclusions:
Targeting commercial TV viewing may prove a successful behavioral intervention to achieve public health goals in this population.
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