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Demographic correlates of screen time and objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity among toddlers: a
Valerie Carson1, Nicholas Kuzik2
1Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H9, Canada. vlcarson@ualberta.ca.
Insights
Identifying key demographic factors in toddlers is crucial for targeted interventions. Female toddlers, ethnic minorities, lower-income families, and those in non-center-based care need specific attention for screen time reduction.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Understanding demographic correlates of sedentary behavior and physical activity in toddlers (12-35 months) is vital for early intervention.
- Long-term behavioral patterns are often established during toddlerhood, highlighting the importance of this age group.
- Limited research exists on the demographic factors influencing sedentary behavior and physical activity in this specific age range.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between demographic correlates and specific types of sedentary behavior and physical activity in toddlers.
- To identify demographic groups of toddlers most in need of interventions for sedentary behavior and physical activity.
- To inform targeted public health strategies for promoting healthy habits in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Study involved 149 toddlers (19.0 ± 1.9 months) and their parents (33.7 ± 4.7 years) recruited from immunization clinics in Edmonton, Canada.
- Data collected via the Parents' Role in Establishing healthy Physical activity and Sedentary behavior habits (PREPS) parental questionnaire and accelerometer-derived measurements.
- Statistical analyses included simple and multiple linear regression models to assess associations between demographic variables and activity/sedentary behaviors.
Main Results:
- Toddlers' age, sex (female), race/ethnicity (minority), household income (lower), and non-center-based child care were associated with increased screen time.
- Female toddlers showed higher sedentary time and lower moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
- Race/ethnicity (minority) and non-center-based child care were linked to higher video/computer game usage.
Conclusions:
- Female toddlers, those from ethnic minority groups, lower-income families, and non-center-based care settings are key targets for screen time interventions.
- Demographic factors, apart from sex, may not be primary targets for interventions related to objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity.
- Findings emphasize the need for tailored approaches to address screen time disparities in toddlers.
Background:
Determining the most important demographic correlates of sedentary behavior and physical activity will help identify the groups of children that are most in need of intervention. Little is known in regards to the demographic correlates of sedentary behavior and physical activity in toddlers (aged 12-35 months), where long-term behavioral patterns may initially be formed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the associations between demographic correlates and specific types of sedentary behavior and physical activity in this age group.
Methods:
Findings are based on 149 toddlers (19.0 ± 1.9 months) and their parents (33.7 ± 4.7 years) recruited from immunization clinics in Edmonton, Canada as part of the Parents' Role in Establishing healthy Physical activity and Sedentary behavior habits (PREPS) project. Toddlers' and parental demographic characteristics and toddlers' television viewing, video/computer games, and overall screen time were measured via the PREPS parental questionnaire. Toddlers' objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity (light, moderate to vigorous, and total) were accelerometer-derived using Actigraph wGT3X-BT monitors. Simple and multiple linear regression models were conducted to examine associations.
Results:
In the multiple linear regression models, toddlers' age, toddlers' sex (female versus male), toddlers' race/ethnicity (other versus European-Canadian/Caucasian), and household income ($50,001 to $100,000 versus > $100,000) were significantly positively associated, and main type of child care (child care center versus parental care) was significantly negatively associated with screen time. Similar findings were observed with television viewing, except null associations were observed for toddlers' sex. Toddlers' race/ethnicity (other versus European-Canadian/Caucasian) was significantly positively associated and main type of child care (child care center, day home, other versus parental care) was significantly negatively associated with video/computer games. Toddlers' sex (female versus male) was significantly positively associated with sedentary time and significantly negatively associated with moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity.
Conclusions:
Female toddlers, toddlers from ethnic minority groups, toddlers from families of lower income, and toddlers whose main type of child care is not center-based may be important targets for screen time interventions in toddlers. Apart from sex, demographic correlates may not be important targets for objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity in toddlers.
