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Elevated background TV exposure over time increases behavioural scores of 18-month-old toddlers
Weerasak Chonchaiya1, Chalermpol Sirachairat1, Nakul Vijakkhana1
1Division of Growth and Development, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
Insights
Increased television (TV) exposure in infants from six to 18 months, particularly adult programs, is linked to behavioral issues in toddlers. Limiting background TV is recommended for healthy child development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Media Studies
Background:
- Early childhood television (TV) exposure is a growing concern.
- Understanding the impact of TV on infant behavior is crucial for developmental guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between TV exposure trends (age 6-18 months) and adult TV programs with behavioral concerns in 18-month-old Thai toddlers.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study followed 194 healthy infants from 6 to 18 months.
- TV exposure was assessed via in-depth interviews at 6 and 18 months.
- Mothers used the Child Behavior Checklist to rate child behaviors.
Main Results:
- Increased TV exposure from 6 to 18 months, including adult programs from 6 months, correlated with higher scores for pervasive developmental problems and oppositional defiant behaviors.
- Early exposure to adult TV programs at 6 months was associated with emotionally reactive problems, aggression, and externalizing behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Elevated background TV exposure over time should be discouraged to promote appropriate toddler behavior.
- Pediatricians should discuss the effects of TV exposure on child behavior with parents during health supervision visits.
- Increased parental awareness of TV's detrimental effects on child behavior is essential.
Aim:
To investigate whether trends of TV exposure from age six to 18 months and adult TV programmes were associated with behavioural concerns of 18-month-old Thai toddlers.
Methods:
There were 194 healthy infants recruited at age six months and followed up until 18 months of age in this present cohort. TV exposure variables were assessed by interviewing in depth at both six- and 18-month-old visits. A mother of each participant rated the child's behaviours using the Child Behaviour Checklist.
Results:
Infants who were increasingly exposed to TV from age six to 18 months with adult programmes since six months of age had higher pervasive developmental problems and oppositional defiant behaviours scores. Exposure to adult TV programmes at age six months was also associated with emotionally reactive problems, aggression and externalising behaviours in the final regression models.
Conclusion:
To promote appropriate toddlers' behaviours at age 18 months, elevated background TV exposure over time should be discouraged. Furthermore, paediatricians should emphasise such effects of TV exposure on child behaviours with parents at health supervision visits. As such, parents will be aware of the detrimental effect of increased background TV exposure over time on their children's behaviours.
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