Television viewing, reading, physical activity and brain development among young South Korean children

To examine associations between television (TV) viewing, reading, physical activity (PA), and participation in these behaviors with caregivers, and cognitive and linguistic development among young South Korean children aged 0-5 years.

Cross-sectional study.

Findings are based on 1870 children in the Korea Children and Youth Survey. All measures were questionnaire-derived.

Children who participated in PA for 1-3h/week and for >3h/week were more likely to show high cognitive development (OR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.06-2.00 and OR=1.58, 95%CI: 1.11-2.23; referent: <1h/week). Reading for 1-3h/day and for >3h/day were associated with increased odds of high cognitive development (weekdays: OR=1.89, 95%CI: 1.32-2.41 and OR=2.47, 95%CI: 1.29-4.73; weekends: OR=1.87, 95%CI: 1.39-2.54 and OR=3.34, 95%CI: 1.70-6.55; referent: <1h/day). TV viewing for 1-3h/day on weekends was associated with increased odds of high linguistic development (OR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.07-1.94); referent: <1h/day). When children participated in TV viewing, reading, and PA daily with caregivers, they were more likely to show high cognitive and/or linguistic development than those who engaged in these behaviors 1-2 times/week.

Findings support emerging evidence that PA and specific types of sedentary behavior have positive impacts on brain development during early childhood. Furthermore, engaging in different types of behavior more frequently with caregivers, regardless of type, may be important for brain development.