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Screen time of infants in Sydney, Australia: a birth cohort study
Meena Chandra1, Bin Jalaludin2,3,4, Susan Woolfenden5,6
1Department of Community Paediatrics, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia.
Insights
Forty percent of 18-month-old children have over two hours of daily screen time. Factors like single-mother households and fewer siblings correlate with increased screen exposure in infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Excessive screen time in early childhood is linked to adverse cognitive, developmental, and health outcomes.
- Understanding screen time patterns and contributing factors in infants is crucial for early intervention and public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the daily screen time duration in 18-month-old infants.
- To identify correlations associated with excessive screen use in this age group.
Main Methods:
- A birth cohort study involving 500 infants in South Western Sydney (SWS).
- Telephone interviews were conducted at 6, 12, and 18 months of age.
- Screen time data was collected at 18 months.
Main Results:
- 40% of 18-month-old children exceeded 2 hours of daily screen time.
- Significant associations with >2 hours of screen time included: maternal single-parent status (OR 4.32), fewer than 3 siblings (OR 2.44-2.08), employed father (OR 1.96), no outdoor equipment (OR 1.89), and <5 outings/week (OR 2.08).
Conclusions:
- A substantial proportion of infants in SWS are exposed to excessive screen time (>2 hours daily).
- Specific socioeconomic and environmental factors are associated with increased screen time.
- Further research is needed to fully understand risk factors and inform public health initiatives to reduce screen exposure in young children.
Objectives:
To determine the amount of daily screen time in children 18 months of age and ascertain correlations that may be contributing to excessive screen use.
Design:
A birth cohort was followed with telephone interviews at 6, 12 and 18 months of age. Information about screen time was collected at 18 months.
Setting:
Parents were recruited from postnatal wards of 2 major public hospitals and at home visits conducted for new mothers within 4 weeks of birth in South Western Sydney (SWS).
Participants:
Parents of 500 children with infants 18 months of age residing in SWS.
Primary And Secondary Outcomes:
Screen time in infants 18 months of age and associated correlations.
Results:
A large percentage of children 18 months of age (40%) had screen times >2 hours daily. There were significant associations between more than 2 hours of screen time daily and mothers without a partner (OR 4.32 (95% CI 1.67 to 11.15)); having <3 siblings (no siblings: OR 2.44 (95% CI 1.20 to 4.94); 1-2 siblings: OR 2.08 (95% CI 1.06 to 4.08)); an employed father (OR 1.96 (95% CI 1.09 to 3.52)); no outdoor equipment at home (OR 1.89 (95% CI 1.08 to 3.34)) and fewer than 5 outings per week (OR 2.08 (95% CI 1.37 to 3.17)).
Conclusions:
There is emerging evidence that excess screen time in children causes adverse cognitive, developmental and health outcomes. This study has shown that a large proportion of very young children residing in SWS have screen exposures for >2 hours per day. Factors contributing to excess screen time have also been identified in this study; however, a greater understanding of risk factors needs to be ascertained in order to facilitate greater public health efforts to reduce screen exposure.
